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Seasonal · Winter 2026–27
Snowfall Places in India: 7 Quieter Places to See Snow This Winter, with Costs
Manali, Mussoorie, Nainital and Gulmarg are where everyone goes for snow, and where the traffic jams are. These seven places get real winter snow, each is the quieter stand-in for one of those names, and each comes with when the snow comes and what three days cost.
Photo: Navdeep Gusain, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Text added by Trip Under.
Short answer
For snow without the crowds: Chopta in Uttarakhand is the surest (its path is snowbound December to March). Kanatal and Chakrata are the quiet alternatives to Mussoorie, Munsiyari to Nainital, Kalpa to Shimla or Manali, Tawang to Gulmarg, and Zuluk to Gangtok. Late December to February is the main window. Three days start at about ₹4,200 one person, with the fare.
Search for snowfall in India and you get the same names every winter: Manali, Shimla, Mussoorie, Nainital, Gulmarg. They do get snow, and when they do, so does the traffic. In December 2024 more than 5,000 tourists had to be evacuated around Solang above Manali.
Every place on Trip Under is chosen as the quieter stand-in for somewhere famous. These seven are the ones whose winter brings snow, from our own records of each place: when the snow comes, what closes, and what three days cost one person.
All 7 at a glance
| Place | Instead of | Snow | Priced from | 3 days, shoestring | 3 days, mid-range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chopta | Kedarnath in season | December to March | Rishikesh | ₹4,600 | ₹6,700 |
| Kanatal | Mussoorie | late December to February | Dehradun | ₹5,100 | ₹9,300 |
| Chakrata | Mussoorie | occasional, December to February | Dehradun | ₹5,800 | ₹8,800 |
| Munsiyari | Nainital | December to February | Haldwani | ₹4,300 | ₹7,300 |
| Kalpa | Shimla or Manali | December to March | Shimla | ₹4,200 | ₹8,700 |
| Tawang | Gulmarg | December to February | Guwahati | ₹7,800 | ₹12,300 |
| Zuluk | Gangtok | December to February | Gangtok * | ₹6,000 | ₹10,500 |
Snow is never guaranteed. Each record gives the usual window, but snow comes in spells, and some winters are dry: Manali town had almost none until late January in 2023–24 and 2025–26. Watch the forecast for a week before you go, and keep a spare day for roads closed by snow.
Snow so far this winter
Up to early November 2026, snow had fallen only up high: at the Atal Tunnel north portal and Keylong in mid-October (Outlook, 15 October 2026), and fresh snow at Kedarnath and Badrinath around 2 November (news reports). The hill stations and the places below usually see their first snow from late December. We will update this section as the season goes on.
The 7 places, surest snow first
Photo: Vvnataraj, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
1. Chopta & Tungnath
Instead of Kedarnath in season. The surest snow on this list. The path up to Tungnath is snowbound from December to March: beautiful, and it needs micro-spikes. The temple itself closes for winter around November, when the deity moves down to Mukku.
Start early from Rishikesh: the shared jeeps on the last leg stop running by mid-afternoon.
Getting there: Bus + shared jeep, Rishikesh → Ukhimath → Chopta, 9 h, ₹800 one way (in the price).
Chopta & Tungnath pageFull place page →
Photo: Dr.IMRAN ALI VETS, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
2. Kanatal
Instead of Mussoorie. Snow from late December to February, with January the best bet. It is not guaranteed every year, and heavy snow can block the ridge road. The hill bus from Dehradun runs through Mussoorie and Dhanaulti to get here.
Check that your camp is open and heated before you book a winter night: nights go below freezing.
Getting there: UTC hill bus, Dehradun (hill bus stand) → Kanatal, 3 h, ₹170 one way (in the price).
Kanatal pageFull place page →
Photo: Manojpanchal90, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
3. Chakrata
Instead of Mussoorie. Winter here is cold, down to about 2°C, with occasional snow on Deoban, the ridge above the town. Come for a quiet cold-weather weekend and count any snow as a bonus.
Chakrata is an army cantonment: Indian nationals only, and no photos of army buildings, vehicles or people.
Getting there: AC minibus, Dehradun → Chakrata, 2 h 45 m, ₹952 one way (in the price).
Chakrata pageFull place page →
Photo: SudiptoDutta, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
4. Munsiyari
Instead of Nainital. Winter is cold, with snow on Khaliya Top above the town and the Panchachuli peaks in front of you. The road can close after heavy snow, so keep a spare day.
The bus leaves Haldwani at 5 am and takes 10 to 11 hours. Haldwani is 6 km from Kathgodam station.
Getting there: KMOU bus, Haldwani → Munsiyari, 10-11 h, ₹640 one way (in the price).
Munsiyari pageFull place page →
Photo: Gerd Eichmann, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
5. Kalpa & Reckong Peo
Instead of Shimla or Manali. Heavy snow from December to March, nights near −15 to −20°C and short road closures. This is deep winter, not a day trip to see snow. The HPTDC hotel in Kalpa shuts from December to March, so book a heated homestay.
Indian citizens need no permit for Kalpa. Get the early-morning bus from Shimla; the trip takes 8 to 10 hours.
Getting there: HRTC ordinary bus, Shimla → Reckong Peo, 8-10 h, ₹430 one way (in the price). From Reckong Peo, a local bus (roughly hourly) or shared taxi climbs the last 7 km to Kalpa for about ₹30–40.
Kalpa & Reckong Peo pageFull place page →
Photo: TassoRija, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
6. Tawang
Instead of Gulmarg. December to February is cold, with snow at Sela Pass and Bumla. The Sela tunnel, open since March 2024, keeps the road to Tawang open in winter, but Madhuri Lake and Bumla can shut after snow.
Indian citizens need an Inner Line Permit before Bhalukpong: apply only at eilp.arunachal.gov.in. Break the long drive at Dirang.
Getting there: Shared Sumo, Guwahati → Tawang, 14-16 h, ₹1,650 one way (in the price).
Tawang pageFull place page →
Photo: Tsen2006, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
7. Zuluk & the Old Silk Route
Instead of Gangtok. From December to February the route is under snow. Roads are often blocked from January, and the Kupup high road is most likely shut from December to March, so December is the safer bet.
Foreign nationals are not allowed on this route. Indian citizens need a Protected Area Permit (two photos and Aadhaar, Voter ID or passport; PAN is not accepted).
Getting there: priced from Gangtok, ground costs only. A Gangtok taxi shared by four costs about ₹1,500–2,000 each for the 2-night trip, on top of this.
Zuluk & the Old Silk Route pageFull place page →Snow treks: walk into it
If you want to be in the snow rather than look at it, these five Uttarakhand treks are walked in winter. Costs are from the trek base, covering local transport, permits, a guide where needed and food; the journey to the base is extra.
| Trek | Snow season | Days | Highest point | Cost from base |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nag Tibba | October to March | 2 days | 3,022 m | ₹2,500 |
| Kedarkantha | December to April | 6 days | 3,810 m | ₹9,000 |
| Kuari Pass | December to March | 5 days | 3,815 m | ₹10,000 |
| Dayara Bugyal | December to March | 5 days | 3,750 m | ₹11,000 |
| Brahmatal | late December to early March | 6 days | 3,846 m | ₹11,000 |
Photo: Kanthi Kiran, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Har Ki Dun is not a winter option: the forest department closes it from the end of December to mid-March. Book winter treks with a registered operator, carry micro-spikes, and expect nights well below freezing.
Where not to go for snow this winter
- Tirthan Valley: December to February is snow, but most guesthouses close and the Jalori Pass road shuts. Go in March or from September instead.
- Sangla and Chitkul: the Sangla–Chitkul road usually closes by mid-December and reopens in March, with nights near −20°C.
- Spiti from Manali: from November to April the valley is snowed in and the Manali pass is shut.
- Mechuka: beautiful in winter and well below freezing at night, but it gets snow only some years. Go for the valley, not the snow.
Planning a snow trip
- Go late December to February. That is when snow is most likely at hill-station height. October snow is up on the passes, not in town.
- Keep a spare day. Heavy snow closes roads for hours or days, at Kalpa, Munsiyari, Kanatal and on the Old Silk Route alike.
- Check heating before you pay. Many winter rooms are unheated, and some hotels, like HPTDC at Kalpa, shut for the season.
- Use the long weekends. Christmas and New Year fall on Fridays this year: see our Christmas and New Year long weekend guide. For next year's dates, see Holidays 2027.
- Book each piece yourself. Trip Under is not a travel agency, so book the bus, room and taxi direct.
Still set on Manali? Read when it really snows in Manali, from four winters of dated reports.
Frequently asked questions
Which are the best snowfall places in India?
Quieter options with real winter snow: Chopta (snowbound December to March), Kanatal and Chakrata instead of Mussoorie, Munsiyari instead of Nainital, Kalpa instead of Shimla or Manali, Tawang (Sela Pass) instead of Gulmarg, and Zuluk instead of Gangtok.
When does it snow in India?
In the hill stations, mostly from late December to February. The high passes get snow from October, but towns at around 2,000 m can wait until January, and some winters are dry.
Where can I see snowfall in December in India?
Chopta is the surest: its path is snowbound from December. Zuluk is under snow from December, before roads start closing in January, and Tawang has snow at Sela Pass from December. Kanatal and Munsiyari are more likely from late December into January.
Where to see snow near Mussoorie without the crowds?
Kanatal, about 3 hours from Dehradun by the UTC hill bus through Mussoorie and Dhanaulti, gets snow from late December to February, January being the best bet. Chakrata, 2 h 45 m from Dehradun by minibus, gets occasional snow on Deoban.
Where to see snow instead of Nainital?
Munsiyari: snow on Khaliya Top in winter with the Panchachuli peaks in front. The bus from Haldwani takes 10 to 11 hours and costs ₹640; three days cost about ₹4,300 with the fare.
Which is the cheapest place to see snow in India?
Of these seven, Kalpa is cheapest, about ₹4,200 for three days from Shimla, with the fare. For a snow trek, Nag Tibba costs about ₹2,500 from the base and takes two days.
Which is the best snow trek in India for beginners?
Kedarkantha (December to April, 6 days, 3,810 m) is the classic first snow summit with no technical climbing. Nag Tibba is the easy weekend option, two days with one night out. Dayara Bugyal is graded easy, with snow on the meadows from December to March.
Sources and how we priced this
- Snow months, road closures, permits, routes, fares and daily costs for each place: its Trip Under page (linked above), with original sources listed there, built on our cost method.
- Trek seasons, days, heights and costs from the base: each trek's Trip Under page.
- Snow so far this winter: Outlook (15 October 2026) for the Atal Tunnel and Keylong; news reports of 2 November 2026 for Kedarnath and Badrinath. Manali dry spells and the December 2024 Solang evacuation: The Tribune, Business Today and DD News, as listed in our Manali snowfall guide.
- Costs are one person, three days, return fare on the named leg plus beds, food, local transport and fees. Fares are planning figures. Check live prices before you book.
Keep reading
Want snow on foot?
Every Himalayan trek on Trip Under, with its season, grade and cost from the base.
Browse winter treks →Costs come from Trip Under's place data and our cost model (see methodology). They are indicative ballparks for budget travel and move with season and demand. Check live bus, train and room prices before you book. Trip Under is reader-planned, not an agency, and takes no commission on any booking.