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THE ANNUAL INDEX · ISSUE Nº 48

NakshIQ 100.

India's 100 best destination-months, ranked across weather, access, crowd, and safety. Drawn from 5,856 scored rows across 505 destinations.

An annual index · Edition June 2026

TOP 10

01

Munsiyari in April.

April at Munsiyari — spring proper — apricot and apple bloom across the valley floors, mid-altitude trek routes drying out, pass-openings imminent. Built for Panchachuli viewing. Not a kids destination: 4.0/10.

Uttarakhand · 10.0/1002

Pillalamarri in February.

February at Pillalamarri — continued dry winter window; Warangal, Medak, Ramappa temple circuit at its best, Nagarjuna Sagar water levels still reliable. Built for Dargah pair. Family-appropriate: 8.0/10.

Telangana · 10.0/1003

Neemrana in February.

February at Neemrana — perfect Rajasthan window — the Jaipur Literature Festival sets the social calendar, forts and havelis packed but worth it. Built for Heritage hotel pioneer. Family-appropriate: 8.0/10.

Rajasthan · 10.0/1004

Pochampally in October.

October at Pochampally — NE monsoon gives Telangana a second wet spell but lighter than SW — Bonalu and Bathukamma festivals across the state light up rural tanks. Built for Bhoodan movement heritage. Manageable with older kids: 6.0/10.

Telangana · 10.0/1005

Prashar Lake in May.

May at Prashar Lake — the pre-monsoon window — clear, warm days at 20-28°C, all major passes open in the last fortnight, maximum access before the weather turns. Built for Dhauladhar panorama. Manageable with older kids: 6.0/10.

Himachal Pradesh · 10.0/1006

Raghurajpur in February.

February at Raghurajpur — dry coastal-east window — beach temperatures 20-28°C on the Odisha and Andhra coasts, inland heritage sites comfortable, Eastern Ghats valleys at cool-morning temperatures; second-half starts warming. Built for Heritage crafts village. Family-appropriate: 8.0/10.

Odisha · 10.0/1007

Gandikota in November.

November is the peak-build month. NE monsoon eases through second half. Daytime 25-27C, nights 18-19C. Pennar river still at clean flow. Fort + gorge at year-cleanest. APTDC Haritha books out 3-4 weeks ahead.

Andhra Pradesh · 10.0/1008

Belum Caves in February.

February is the technical peak. Rainfall under 10mm, daytime 30-31C, nights 18-19C. Cave underground consistent 30-35C. 3.2km guided circuit at year-cleanest weekday crowd.

Andhra Pradesh · 10.0/1009

Spice Plantations (Ponda) in November.

November peak builds (19–30°C, dry) with plantations at year-best green from monsoon rains. Full temple operations. Hotel rates climb 20% month-over-month. This is peak season for Ponda's dual appeal: spices + spirituality.

Goa · 10.0/1010

Bangaram Island in January.

January is the version of Bangaram every honeymoon brochure draws. The 30-minute speedboat from Agatti runs daily, the resort's 50-odd thatched cottages sit at full occupancy, and lagoon viz hits 35m. Bangaram is the only legal-alcohol island in the chain — pack expectations accordingly elsewhere.

Lakshadweep · 10.0/10

11 — 100

11Lamayuru· SeptemberLadakh10.0/10 12Pulicat Lake· FebruaryAndhra Pradesh10.0/10 13Ponmudi· DecemberKerala10.0/10 14Raigad Fort· OctoberMaharashtra10.0/10 15Achabal· SeptemberJammu & Kashmir10.0/10 16Coimbatore· FebruaryTamil Nadu10.0/10 17Dungarpur· NovemberRajasthan10.0/10 18Rajahmundry· JanuaryAndhra Pradesh10.0/10 19Kashid· FebruaryMaharashtra10.0/10 20Rajgir· NovemberBihar10.0/10 21Ranakpur Jain Temple· DecemberRajasthan10.0/10 22Rameswaram· JanuaryTamil Nadu10.0/10 23Shekhawati· NovemberRajasthan10.0/10 24Ramappa Temple· NovemberTelangana10.0/10 25Pangong Tso· SeptemberLadakh10.0/10 26Sambalpur· FebruaryOdisha10.0/10 27Astavinayak Circuit· OctoberMaharashtra10.0/10 28Ranikhet· OctoberUttarakhand10.0/10 29Champaner-Pavagadh· JanuaryGujarat10.0/10 30Sanchi· NovemberMadhya Pradesh10.0/10 31Sariska Tiger Reserve· JanuaryRajasthan10.0/10 32Rishikesh· NovemberUttarakhand10.0/10 33Rudraprayag· AprilUttarakhand10.0/10 34Srirangam· DecemberTamil Nadu10.0/10 35Kavaratti· JanuaryLakshadweep10.0/10 36Alampur· NovemberTelangana10.0/10 37Sarahan· SeptemberHimachal Pradesh10.0/10 38Adilabad· JulyTelangana10.0/10 39Silvassa· FebruaryDaman & Diu10.0/10 40Sangla Valley· JuneHimachal Pradesh10.0/10 41Sarnath· NovemberUttar Pradesh10.0/10 42Coonoor· AprilTamil Nadu10.0/10 43Shikharji· DecemberJharkhand10.0/10 44Shimla· OctoberHimachal Pradesh10.0/10 45Kushinagar· OctoberUttar Pradesh10.0/10 46Satkosia· JanuaryOdisha10.0/10 47Kolanupaka· OctoberTelangana10.0/10 48Belur· JanuaryKarnataka10.0/10 49Sinthan Top· SeptemberJammu & Kashmir10.0/10 50Sissu· SeptemberHimachal Pradesh10.0/10 51Patnitop· OctoberJammu & Kashmir10.0/10 52Simlipal· JanuaryOdisha10.0/10 53Sirpur· FebruaryChhattisgarh10.0/10 54Tehri Lake· OctoberUttarakhand10.0/10 55Sonamarg· JuneJammu & Kashmir10.0/10 56Srikalahasti· JanuaryAndhra Pradesh10.0/10 57Colva & Benaulim· JanuaryGoa10.0/10 58Tiruchendur· NovemberTamil Nadu10.0/10 59Talasari· DecemberOdisha10.0/10 60Ozar· NovemberMaharashtra10.0/10 61Bekal· NovemberKerala10.0/10 62Nubra Valley· JuneLadakh10.0/10 63Jampui Hills· NovemberTripura10.0/10 64Lenyadri· FebruaryMaharashtra10.0/10 65Srinagar· MayJammu & Kashmir10.0/10 66Cuttack· FebruaryOdisha10.0/10 67Pawapuri· FebruaryBihar10.0/10 68Thekkady (Periyar)· NovemberKerala10.0/10 69Taptapani· NovemberOdisha10.0/10 70Undavalli Caves· NovemberAndhra Pradesh10.0/10 71Kutch (Bhuj)· NovemberGujarat10.0/10 72Leh· JuneLadakh10.0/10 73Tharangambadi (Tranquebar)· NovemberTamil Nadu10.0/10 74Keylong· JuneHimachal Pradesh10.0/10 75Yusmarg· SeptemberJammu & Kashmir10.0/10 76Bhongir· FebruaryTelangana10.0/10 77Udaipur· OctoberRajasthan10.0/10 78Siddhatek· SeptemberMaharashtra10.0/10 79Udupi· FebruaryKarnataka10.0/10 80Ukhrul· MayManipur10.0/10 81Pali (Raigad)· FebruaryMaharashtra10.0/10 82Bikaner· JanuaryRajasthan10.0/10 83Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary· DecemberKerala10.0/10 84Mumbai· NovemberMaharashtra10.0/10 85Ganpatipule· JanuaryMaharashtra10.0/10 86Daman· FebruaryDaman & Diu10.0/10 87Jim Corbett National Park· JanuaryUttarakhand10.0/10 88Lansdowne· AprilUttarakhand10.0/10 89Bengaluru· DecemberKarnataka10.0/10 90Medak· JanuaryTelangana10.0/10 91Coorg (Kodagu)· MarchKarnataka10.0/10 92Palolem· JanuaryGoa10.0/10 93Ujjain· JanuaryMadhya Pradesh10.0/10 94Laknavaram· NovemberTelangana10.0/10 95Chitkul· JuneHimachal Pradesh10.0/10 96Diu· JanuaryDaman & Diu10.0/10 97Thanjavur (Tanjore)· JanuaryTamil Nadu10.0/10 98Almora· OctoberUttarakhand10.0/10 99Kanheri Caves· NovemberMaharashtra10.0/10100Gulmarg· JuneJammu & Kashmir10.0/10

HOW THE 100 IS CHOSEN

Every destination × month pair in the NakshIQ database carries a 0–10 suitability score combining weather (IMD data), access (road/pass/flight status), crowd math, local festival calendars, and risk flags. The NakshIQ 100 takes the single best month for each destination, ranks across all 505 destinations, and publishes the top 100. One destination never appears twice; the ranking is the destination at its best, not a month-by-month scan.

See how we score for the full rubric. An updated edition is published annually.

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Citations welcomed. Cite as: NakshIQ 100 — India's best destination-months, 2026. nakshiq.com/hi/nakshiq-100.

Press & research queries: editor@nakshiq.com.