Choosing between honeymoon destinations in India usually comes down to one thing people forget to check: the date of the wedding. A Kashmir honeymoon in July and one in January are completely different trips, Goa is magical in December and washed out in August, and a beach that's perfect in March can be unbearably humid in May.
So this guide starts with the season. Below are twelve of the best honeymoon destinations in India, grouped by when they're at their best, with how many days to give each one, a realistic budget for two and what makes it special. Pick the ones that fit your wedding date, then your style.
Honeymoon destinations in India by season
| If the wedding is in | Best picks |
|---|---|
| November to February | Andaman, Kerala, Udaipur, Goa, Jaisalmer, Coorg, Gulmarg for snow |
| March to June | Kashmir, Sikkim and Darjeeling, Manali, Ooty and Coonoor, Munnar, Andaman until May |
| July to September | Udaipur in the monsoon, Coorg, Munnar, Ladakh, Kashmir |
| October | Almost anywhere: the best all-round month |
At a glance
| Destination | Best for | Best months | Ideal days | Budget for two (excl. travel) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andaman Islands | Beaches, diving | Nov to Apr | 6 to 7 | ₹45,000 to ₹1 lakh |
| Kashmir | Houseboats, mountains | Apr to Oct | 5 to 6 | ₹35,000 to ₹80,000 |
| Kerala | Backwaters, tea hills | Oct to Mar | 6 to 7 | ₹40,000 to ₹90,000 |
| Udaipur | Palaces, lakes | Sep to Mar | 3 to 4 | ₹25,000 to ₹70,000 |
| South Goa | Quiet beaches | Nov to Feb | 4 to 5 | ₹30,000 to ₹70,000 |
| Coorg | Coffee estates, privacy | Oct to May | 3 | ₹20,000 to ₹50,000 |
| Sikkim and Darjeeling | Kanchenjunga views | Mar to May, Oct to Dec | 6 to 7 | ₹35,000 to ₹70,000 |
| Manali | Snow, cafés | Mar to Jun, Dec to Jan | 4 to 5 | ₹20,000 to ₹50,000 |
| Ooty and Coonoor | Tea, toy train | Mar to Jun, Sep to Nov | 3 to 4 | ₹20,000 to ₹45,000 |
| Jaisalmer | Desert, stars | Oct to Mar | 3 | ₹20,000 to ₹50,000 |
| Lakshadweep | Lagoons, total escape | Oct to Apr | 4 to 5 | ₹70,000 and up |
| Meghalaya | Clouds, waterfalls | Oct to May | 5 to 6 | ₹30,000 to ₹60,000 |
Budgets cover stays, food, local transport and activities for two in mid-range comfort. Flights or trains to get there are extra, and peak weeks cost more.
1. Andaman Islands: for the beach honeymoon
The Andamans are India's answer to the Maldives, at a fraction of the price. Spend a night in Port Blair for the Cellular Jail light show, then take the ferry to Havelock for Radhanagar Beach, one of the finest in Asia, a beginner's scuba dive among the coral, and sunrise at Kalapathar. End on quiet Neil Island with bicycles and empty beaches.
- Make it special: a sunset dinner on the beach at Havelock, or a dive together
- Good to know: book ferries with your flights, as they sell out in season
Our full Andaman trip plan has the day-by-day itinerary and ferry details.
2. Kashmir: for houseboats and mountain meadows
Few places in India are as romantic as Dal Lake at dawn, gliding past lotus beds in a shikara from your houseboat. Add Gulmarg for the gondola and the meadows (or snow, in winter), Pahalgam for the Lidder river and pine valleys, and Sonamarg for its glaciers. Spring brings the tulip garden in Srinagar, summer brings green meadows, and autumn turns the chinar trees red.
- Make it special: a night on a Nigeen Lake houseboat, quieter and more upmarket than Dal
- Good to know: prepaid SIMs from other states don't work in J&K
See our Kashmir trip plan for a full itinerary.
3. Kerala: for backwaters and tea hills
A Kerala honeymoon combines three very different moods: the misty tea estates of Munnar, the spice gardens of Thekkady and a night on a private houseboat in Alleppey or Kumarakom, drifting through the backwaters with your own cook on board. Add two nights on the cliffs of Varkala or a beach resort at Marari to finish.
- Make it special: a premium houseboat with a single bedroom, and an Ayurvedic couple's massage
- Good to know: Kerala's monsoon (June to September) is beautiful and cheaper, but wet
Our 7-day Kerala itinerary covers the full route.
4. Udaipur: for palaces and lakes
Udaipur is the most romantic city in India: white palaces rising out of Lake Pichola, rooftop restaurants looking across the water, and sunsets from the Monsoon Palace on the hill. It's also one of the best honeymoon destinations in India for a short trip, since three days is enough.
- Make it special: a sunset boat on Lake Pichola, and a dinner at a lake-facing rooftop or a palace hotel
- Good to know: in August and September, the monsoon fills the lakes and the city is at its prettiest
Read our guide to places to visit in Udaipur.
5. South Goa: for slow beach days
Skip the crowds of the North and base yourselves in Palolem, Agonda or Cola in South Goa, with their calm bays, boutique stays and quiet evenings. Day trips to Old Goa, the painted lanes of Fontainhas in Panjim and the cliffs of Cabo de Rama add some variety.
- Make it special: a boat to Butterfly Beach, and dinner at a beach-side restaurant with your feet in the sand
- Good to know: Christmas to New Year is crowded and expensive
Our Goa trip plan explains North vs South.
6. Coorg: for privacy among the coffee
Coorg (Kodagu) is ideal if you want to switch off. Stay at a homestay or a resort inside a working coffee estate, walk among the plantations, visit Abbey Falls and Raja's Seat at sunset, and eat Kodava pork curry with rice. It's a short drive from Bengaluru and Mysuru, so it also works for a short honeymoon.
- Make it special: a plantation villa with a private pool
- Good to know: the monsoon (June to September) is very wet, but lush
See our Coorg trip guide.
7. Sikkim and Darjeeling: for Kanchenjunga at sunrise
Watch the sun hit Kanchenjunga, the world's third-highest mountain, from Tiger Hill in Darjeeling, ride the UNESCO-listed toy train, stroll through tea estates, then cross into Sikkim for Gangtok's calm streets, Tsomgo Lake and, permits allowing, the snowy valleys of North Sikkim. Pelling has Kanchenjunga right outside your window.
- Make it special: a tea estate bungalow in Darjeeling
- Good to know: North Sikkim needs a permit through a registered operator
See our Sikkim trip plan and Darjeeling guide.
8. Manali: for snow and cafés
Manali is the classic North Indian honeymoon for a reason: it's easy to reach, has stays at every budget, and gives you snow in winter and green valleys in summer. Spend time in the cafés of Old Manali, see snow at Solang Valley or Sissu beyond the Atal Tunnel, and visit the Hadimba Temple in its cedar forest.
- Make it special: a cottage with a fireplace in Old Manali or Naggar
- Good to know: avoid the Christmas and New Year rush, when traffic jams are common
Our Shimla Manali trip plan has the full route from Delhi.
9. Ooty and Coonoor: for tea estates and a toy train
The Nilgiris offer a gentler hill honeymoon in the South. Ride the Nilgiri Mountain Railway, a UNESCO World Heritage toy train, between Mettupalayam and Ooty, stay in a colonial bungalow in quieter Coonoor, and walk through tea estates to viewpoints like Lamb's Rock and Dolphin's Nose.
- Make it special: a heritage bungalow stay in Coonoor rather than busy Ooty
- Good to know: book the toy train well in advance, especially in summer
10. Jaisalmer: for a night under the desert stars
For a honeymoon that's different, go to the desert. Explore the golden Jaisalmer Fort, where people still live inside the walls, then spend a night at a luxury camp near the Sam dunes, with a camel ride at sunset, folk music by the fire and a sky full of stars.
- Make it special: a luxury tent with a private sit-out facing the dunes
- Good to know: desert nights drop close to freezing in December and January
Combine it with Jodhpur and Udaipur using our Rajasthan itinerary.
11. Lakshadweep: for a true escape
If budget allows, Lakshadweep is as close to a private island as India gets: coral atolls with glassy turquoise lagoons, almost no crowds and excellent snorkelling and diving. Flights to Agatti are few and small, and an entry permit is compulsory, so plan well ahead.
- Make it special: a night on Bangaram or Thinnakara
- Good to know: stays are limited and expensive, so book months ahead
Our Lakshadweep trip guide explains permits and flights.
12. Meghalaya: for clouds and waterfalls
Meghalaya suits adventurous couples. Walk to the living root bridges near Cherrapunji, see the clear green water of the Umngot river at Dawki, visit Mawlynnong, one of the cleanest villages in Asia, and watch clouds roll through the valleys from your window in Shillong.
- Make it special: a cottage in the hills above Sohra with a valley view
- Good to know: the root bridge treks involve thousands of steps
See our Meghalaya trip plan.
How to plan a honeymoon in India
Start with the season, then the style. Decide whether you want beaches, mountains, palaces or nature, and then check which of those is in season for your dates.
Don't overpack the itinerary. After a wedding, most couples want slow mornings. Two or three bases are better than five.
Book the special stay first. If you want one splurge, a houseboat, a palace hotel or a beach villa, book it before anything else, then plan the rest around it.
Mention it's your honeymoon. Many hotels and houseboats add a decorated room, a cake or an upgrade if you ask politely when booking.
Set a budget together. Our guide to planning a budget trip in India explains how stay styles change the cost.
Honeymoon budget planner
Here's what a honeymoon in India typically costs for two, for five or six days, including domestic flights or trains:
| Style | Typical total for two | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | ₹35,000 to ₹60,000 | Trains or early-booked flights, simple boutique stays, a few special experiences |
| Mid-range | ₹70,000 to ₹1.5 lakh | Comfortable hotels, a houseboat or palace stay, private transfers |
| Luxury | ₹2 lakh and up | Palace hotels, private villas, premium houseboats and resorts |
Flights are usually the biggest cost for the Andamans, Lakshadweep, Kashmir and the Northeast. Book them as soon as the wedding date is fixed.
Romantic experiences worth booking
- A shikara at sunrise on Dal Lake, ideally from a houseboat
- A private houseboat night on Kerala's backwaters
- A sunset boat on Lake Pichola in Udaipur, followed by a lakeside dinner
- A beach dinner at Radhanagar on Havelock
- A night in a desert camp near Jaisalmer, under the stars
- The toy train to Shimla, Darjeeling or Ooty
- A couple's Ayurvedic massage in Kerala
- A tandem paragliding flight at Bir, for the adventurous
- A tea estate bungalow in Darjeeling, Munnar or Coonoor
Honeymoon tips most couples learn too late
- Don't plan the trip for the day after the wedding. A day or two at home to rest makes the honeymoon far better.
- Carry your marriage certificate or a photo ID for both. Some hotels ask for it for couples.
- Book refundable stays if the wedding date could still move.
- Keep one day with nothing planned. It often ends up being the best day.
How to choose between two honeymoon destinations
If you're torn between two places, ask four questions. Which is in season on our dates? That alone often decides it. How much leave do we have? The Andamans, Kerala and Sikkim need six or seven days; Udaipur and Coorg work in three or four. What do we enjoy doing together? Beaches and diving, mountains and walks, or palaces, food and culture. How much travel can we face? Places with short transfers from an airport, like Udaipur, Goa or Srinagar, leave more time for each other. Answer those honestly and the choice usually becomes obvious.
Honeymoon packing reminders
Carry your IDs and a marriage certificate copy, light layers and one warm outfit even for beach trips, comfortable walking shoes, swimwear, sunscreen and any medicines you need. For the hills and Kashmir, add proper woollens. Leave space for shopping.
Honeymoons in the off-season
Travelling outside peak season can make a honeymoon both cheaper and more romantic. Kerala in the monsoon is lush and quiet, with lower houseboat and resort prices; Udaipur in August and September has full lakes and fewer tourists; Goa from May to September is green and peaceful, if not a beach holiday; and Kashmir in late October has autumn colours and crisp days. The trade-off is weather: keep the plan flexible and choose stays you'll enjoy even on a rainy day.
Plan your honeymoon with JrnyLoop
Tell JrnyLoop where you're starting, where you want to go and that you're travelling as a couple, and it plans the route, each day at a relaxed pace, and a budget for two in a budget, comfort or premium stay style. Switch the stay style and the whole trip re-prices, so you can see the cost of an upgrade before you book. It also builds a packing list for the season and the place.
Not sure where to go? Where can I go? takes your starting city, days and budget and shows you the places that fit.
The short version
Match the destination to the wedding date. For winter, the Andamans, Kerala, Udaipur and South Goa are hard to beat. For spring and summer, choose Kashmir, Sikkim and Darjeeling, Manali or the Nilgiris. Give it five to seven days, keep the pace slow, and spend the most on one unforgettable stay.
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