Best Places To Visit In October In India

October in India is classified widely for the infamous ‘October Heat.’ This is a characteristic weather condition where a lot of coastal as well as inland areas experience surprisingly high heat waves in-between bouts of autumn cool. However, there are many other places in India that become welcoming, both climatically and culturally, in the month of October, especially for tourists. October is the first month that goes dry after months of drenching monsoon, hence it also becomes the opening into the winter tourist season in most of India. For those who are planning an outing in October in India, there are a lot of great places to visit and lots more to enjoy, from Munnar to Char Dham, Jodhpur to Kolkata, each offering its own charm. Here’s our list.

Munnar

Munnar, also widely known as the Kashmir of South India, is a beautiful hill station in Kerala. Its characteristic tea plantations make sure that the town is adrift with the thick aroma of fresh tea. Especially in October, when the rains have left the bushes blooming. This will become your single most compelling reason to visit Munnar in October. Other reasons include the chilly temperatures between 2-13°C, the last of some great off season discounts on food and accommodation, as well as a serene peace before tourist influx.

Things to Do:

Pay a visit to Kolukkumalai Tea Estate for its fresh aroma and breath-taking green scenes. It is one of the highest tea plantations in the world. Stay over for a night in Dream Catcher Plantation Resort’s tree house and feel like a child in your granny’s house all over again. Trek up to Echo Point and visit the Eravikulam National Park, Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary and Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary for animal love. Munnar is also home to a host of waterfalls. They include Lakkam, Chinnakanal, Thoovanam and Attukal. The Ayurvedic massages are also a must-do here as they become most effective in and after monsoon.

How to Reach:

The nearest airport is Cochi International Airport, situated 110 km away. Air India, Jet and Go Air are regular aircraft carriers here and ply to major cities of India. Cabs and vans are available outside the airport and take you to Munnar. State run buses are also another option, cheaper than private cabs. You can also drive up to Munnar from Ernakulam (135 km away) or use the nearest railway station of Aluva (110 km).

Port Blair

Port Blair is the capital of Andaman And Nicobar Islands. It falls in the Indian territory, in the Bay of Bengal. October becomes a pleasant month to visit Port Blair, with a temperature range of 15-34°C and cool, thick breeze prevailing. The skies are clear and dry. This is also a good time to enjoy the beaches, water sports and sight migratory and exotic birds.

Things to Do: 

Visit the architectural wonder that is the Cellular Jail, used by the British to exile Indian freedom fighters. The local museum named Samudrika Marine Museum is home to local marine life. Explore Chiriya Tapu for exotic bird-watching and attend the Light and Sound show at Kala Pani. It depicts the struggle for freedom in a soulful rendition and brings you to the brink of tears. Relive the colonial heritage at Ross Island and see the only active South Asian volcano at Barren Island. 

How to Reach: 

You can take a flight to Port Blair Airport from most major Indian cities like Chennai or Kolkata. There is also a boat service from Visakhapatnam, which takes upto 56 hours, while the one from Chennai takes 60 hours. The tickets for the same can be booked at Shipping Corporation of India (SCI)’s headquarters. Since this is an island, there are no direct rail routes leading into the territory.

Ooty (Udhagamandalam)

Ooty is a wet paradise right out of tea lovers’ dreams. What makes Ooty an ideal October getaway is its cooler temperatures that give a rest from the October Heat in lowlands. The rains are gone, leaving behind a heavy mist and lots of green estates smelling of tea and wet mud. With temperatures between 15-20°C, Ooty becomes very agreeable for outdoor activities.

Things to Do:

Go boating in Pykara Lake, sit by the Emerald lake and Upper Bhavani Lake, take a toy train ride in the Nilgiri Toy Train, and visit the Government Botanical Garden to see how the fauna of this area blooms post monsoon. Keep warm clothes handy and make sure you are covered for cold medicines. You must also go and explore the Toda Hamlet, a smallish village area near Ooty, known for its Toda Temple. For great sights, visit highland grounds like the Doddabetta Peak.

How to Reach:

The nearest airport to Ooty is Coimbatore (88 km away). Jet, Air India and Go Air run regular flights from here to all metros and major cities of India. Bangalore becomes the start point for road trips to Ooty, with a choice of two road maps, namely, via Mysore or through Chamarajanagar. The TNSRTC state run buses also ply in addition to hired private cabs. For train travellers, Mettupalyam is the nearest railway station, only 40 km away.

Sundarbans Tiger Reserve

Sundarbans literally mean ‘beautiful forests’ and rightly so. The Sundarbans is a collection of mangrove forests by the coast of Bay of Bengal, straddling India and Bangladesh. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Sight. September becomes the gateway into tourist season of Sundarbans, October being the best time to see species like saltwater crocodile, shark and ray, olive ridley turtle, ganges river dolphin etc. With temperatures ranging from 10-30°C and rivers, streams and lakes swelling after the rains, Sundarbans are even more sundar (beautiful) in October.

Things to Do:

Spot saltwater crocodiles, sharks and rays, olive ridley turtles, river dolphins and the most famous among all - Bengal Tigers. Head to Sajnekhali, the main watcher tower, especially built for bird watchers. For Tiger fanatics, Sudhanyakhali is a favourite as it lies just beside a pond frequented by spotted deer. During October, these ponds are filled with water and attract more prey and hence many predators. You can also explore Netidhopani, the ruins of a temple that dates back 400 years. You can also spend a day cruising along the waterways of Sunderbans.

How to Reach:

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport of Kolkata is the nearest airport to Sunderbans, located 120 km away. You can also take a train to Canning Railway Station, which is 29 km away from Godkhali Port (the port from where you can take water transport to explore the islands of Sundarbans). You can also hire a cab from Kolkata to Godkhali (45 km away). Buses are frequent too, from Kolkata, almost every hour; the first one stating at 6.30 am from Babu Ghat Bus Terminus on Strand Road.

Coorg

Also called the ‘Scotland of India,’ Coorg is the land of wet mud and fragrant coffee berries. A coveted holiday destination in Karnataka, it is home to some wonderful coffee plantations, orange orchards, pepper and cardamom vines and wild, dense forests. During the month of October, Coorg becomes pleasant with warm days and cool nights, a perfect getaway from the heat of hinterland.

Things to Do:

Coorg offers you a great many things to do in October. From a berry-picking picnic at one of the many coffee plantations to leisurely basket luncheons by Abbey and Iruppu Falls. Since October is a month that does not shower Coorg with rains, these outdoorsy activities become possible. Nature lovers also get to explore the Nagarhole National Park and Dubare Elephant Camp for glimpses of wild animals, including elephants. Raja’s Seat is also a great option to enjoy the view of the town.

How to Reach: 

The nearest airport is Mangalore Domestic Airport (160 km). Taxis and state transport buses are available from here to Coorg. If travelling by trains, Mysore Railway Station is your stop and is only 195 km away from Coorg. State buses also run to Coorg from Bangalore and Mangalore.

Char Dham

Char Dham is a spiritual trip that takes your through four major pilgrim places in North India. It is lately not only limited to pilgrims and souls seeking sacred blessing but also becomes a major coveted trip for adventure seekers as well as peace seekers. With its hikes up ice-covered ridges and mountains, frozen glaciers and temples, Char Dham is renowned worldwide today. It opens up in summer (April-May) and closes by Diwali (October-November). Hence the month of October becomes one of the last months of this Yatra. With temperature as low as 7-8°C, the cold is almost biting when travelling up. 

Things to Do:

The Char Dham consists of four main pilgrimage sights, namely - Yamunotri, Gangotri, Badrinath and Kedarnath. These four locales with their chosen temples are must-visits on your trip. Aside from these, there are also many adventurous things to do in Uttarakhand and lower Garhwal region. Visit Suryakund for its hot water springs near Yamunotri, take a tour of the various hermitages (ashrams) in Uttarkashi near Gangotri. There is also the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering for tourists to visit. The hikes to reach these places is an adventure in itself, although for those who are not the adrenaline junky types, there is always the option of palanquins, horse-back rides as well as helicopters.

How to Reach:

Haridwar is the hub for Char Dham. The nearest airport is Jolly Grant Airport of Dehradun, situated 55 km away. Flights from major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Lucknow, Kolkata land here. Private cars, buses, vans can be hired as usually Char Dham tourism is done in groups. Usually the vehicles only go up until a certain altitude from where, due to lack of room for roadways, the pilgrims and tourists have to walk on foot. It is a steep hike and not for the weak hearted. All the tourists have to undergo compulsory health checkups, especially for heart and blood pressure related diseases. Palanquins, horses and donkeys are also available for the hike. Pawan Hans operates regular helicopter services too.

Jodhpur

Jodhpur, the gateway to Thar, is a desert city in the midst of Rajasthan. Known for the Mehrangarh Fort as well as its blue houses, this place is hot as a furnace during summer and cold as dry ice during winter. October, however, is a transition month between the two and makes for an equitable climate for tourism in Jodhpur. The heat of summer subsides, as do the sparring showers of rain, making way for temperatures between 21-36°C, pleasant days and cool nights. This blue city, called so for its blue houses and walls is also home to the Umaid Bhavan Palace and makes for one hell of a history class for holiday seekers.

Things to Do:

Take a desert safari, visit the Mehrangarh Fort, arguably one of the largest forts in India. Explore Jaswant Thada, a marble memorial made for King Jaswant. Tour the Umaid Bhavan Palace and Ghanta Ghar as well. If you are the adventurous kind, partake in the Amal Sabha (Opium Festival), where the high priest or the eldest member of the community offers opium tab to Lord Shiva and then feeds it to every devotee with their hands. Even though this drug is banned in India, this tradition is untouched and continues unbroken till today. You can also take a walk down the many lanes and by-lanes interlaced among the blue houses of Jodhpur. Eat some traditional fare like Pyaaz ki kachori, samosa and chai at Janta Sweet Home. You can also shop at Sardar Market and Handloom Cooperation.

How to Reach: 

The Jodhpur domestic airport lies only 5 km away from the city centre. You can take a flight to Jodhur from any big city of India, namely Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Ahmedabad etc. Local cabs, taxis and auto-rickshaws are always available on hire for internal transport. The Jodhpur Railway Station is also well connected to the rest of India and the Western Line runs trains from Delhi, Mumbai etc. The state run RSRTC buses also ply if you want to travel by road.

Ranthambore National Park

Ranthambore National Park is a wildlife reserve in Rajasthan, near Sawai Madhopur. Known for its rich wildlife pool of sloth bears, crocodiles, leopards, black buck chinkaras as well the the Royal Bengal Tiger, Ranthambore has been one of the most coveted tourist destinations in India. October is a good opening month into the tourist season with cooler temperatures and filled lakes post monsoon. Tigers are more frequently and easily spotted by these swelling lakes. Ranthambore is also a former hunting ground of Rajput Maharajas but today hunting is strictly banned here.

Things to Do:

Visit the royal Ranthambore Fort, the accommodation of kings and queens of bygone era when they came to the forest with their hunting party. It dates back to the 10th Century. There is also the famed Ganesh Temple to worship at. You must also visit the Padam Talao for its abundant water lilies, Malik Talao and Amreshwar Mahadeo Temple. 

When in the Forest reserve for a safari in October, the timings are 7 am-10.30 am and 2.30 pm-6 pm. Spotting tigers is done by the simple logic that if a tiger was spotted in an area in the morning then it will still be around that place in the evening. Also, the hotter Ranthambore gets, better the chances of spotting the Bengal Tiger in the wild. The warm October afternoons help in this. You can also camp at Tiger Machan near the gates of the Reserve, watch wild animals roam, light a bonfire, eat barbecue and relax in the middle of nowhere. 

How to Reach: 

The nearest airport is Jaipur International Airport about 180 km away. Cabs and vans on hire are available to Ranthambore. Sawai Madhopur Railway Station is the nearest station to Ranthambore Reserve, only 11 km away. Most major cities are connected to Sawai Madhopur and you will find cars just outside the station to hire. The state run RSRTC buses are also an option if you are travelling from another city. 

When travelling inside the reserve in a safari, make sure to follow the golden rule of Ranthambore : ‘Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but tire tracks.’

Hampi

Situated in the state of Karnataka, Hampi is an ancient village peppered with ruins of temples and forts of the Vijayanagar Empire. Dotted on the banks of River Tungabhadra, this village is today a coveted tourist attraction for its long scroll on one of India’s richest and strongest empires. As soon as the month of October arrives, the temperature in Hampi begins to drop. A pleasant range of 15-30°C prevails, making this time the best to visit.

Things to Do: 

Hampi is a village of ruins, temples and an air that whispers of the past. Visit the 7th century Virupaksha Temple on the bank of Tungabhadra, take a tour of Achyutaraya temple and pay your respects at Vijaya Vitthala. For the adventurous ones, there is also bouldering and rock climbing that shoots adrenaline through your veins. Or you can head to the Hippie Island and rent a hut for the day. The breath-taking views from Matanga Hill are also noteworthy. For those who wish to see where Lord Hanuman (Ramayana) was born, head to Anjaneya Hill, named after Hanuman’s mother Anjani. The Monkey Temple here is famed. For added fun, take a ferry ride across Tungabhadra, also called the red river for its red bedrock. 

How to Reach:

Bellary, 36 km away, is the nearest airport to Hampi. Another major airport near Hampi is Hubli, 143 km away. You can fly in from major South Indian cities and some other metros to Hubli. The nearest railway station to Hampi is Hospet, located 13 km away. Trains from Bangalore, Goa as well as Hyderabad stop here. You can also drive to Hampi from Hyderabad (361 km) or Hubli (162 km). Regular buses from Bangalore also ply.

Wayanad

Wayanad is a lush district in Kerala, bordering the Nilgiris of Tamil Nadu. The Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary is a green forest at a high altitude, peppered with some rare wild flora and fauna including Asiatic elephants, tigers, leopards and egrets. By October, the heat of South India subsides to a cooler, more pleasant clime, making Wayanad an ideal getaway. The North East Trade Winds set in and it rains in Wayanad from October to November, with 27-38°C temperature. Humidity is high and sunny days prevail sometimes. 

Things to Do:

Explore the Ambukuthi Hills and Edakkal Caves that contain the ancient petroglyphs. Some of them dating back to the Neolithic age. Visit the Soochipura (literally meaning Needle-like) waterfalls, trek up to the heart-shaped Chembra Lake, and book a safari at Tholpetty Wildlife Sanctuary. You can also go cycling through Wayanad tea estates, boating in Banasura Sagar Dam and explore the Kuruva Islands on Bamboo Rafts. The Tea Estates are the best getaways to stroll your evenings away. Wayanad is really a very idyllic destination.

How to Reach:

Calicut International Airport is the closest airport, only 65 km away. There are direct as well as stopover flights to Calicut from many major Indian cities as well as International destinations. Taxis, vans etc can be availed on hire to travel till Wayanad. Wayanad is not connected directly by rail hence Kozhikode becomes the stopover for train travellers. A good road network connects Wayanad to different parts of Kerala and Karnataka. The KSRTC buses can be availed to and from stopover cities like Bangalore, Mysore, Chennai and Trivandrum. Direct buses to Wayanad are also available.

Kolkata

Kolkata in October is cloaked in reds and whites, with Pandal-hopping as a daily activity for most Bengalis. With the sweet sound of conches and fragrance of incense sticks in the air, everybody is milling around as this is the time of the biggest festival in this city of lights. Durga Puja (equivalent of Dussehra in North and West India) is a 10-day festival celebrated in Kolkata with the most fanfare. This itself becomes the most compelling reason to visit Kolkata in October as Durga Puja usually falls in this month. 

Things to Do:

There are numerous touristy things that one can do when in Kolkata. Like visit the Victoria Memorial, ride a boat under Howrah Bridge, pay respects at Dakshineshwar Kali Temple and explore the Indian Museum. Nicco Park becomes a great picnic spot and hand-drawn rickshaw rides must not be missed. Also, because Durga Puja is upon this city, don’t forget to hop pandals(gazebos) housing mesmerising idols of Goddess Durga. Shop for the traditional red-white sarees and stuff your mouths with scrumptious puja bhog staples including luchi and khichdi. Gorge on Rossogullas and Mishti doi pots for desert and revel in the night lights that spark a different feeling in your heart.

How to Reach: 

Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport is only 17 km away from the city centre and becomes your landing spot from most Indian cities, metros and international destinations. Kolkata has many railway stations, the two major ones being Howrah and Sealdah. Express trains like Shatabdi and Rajdhani connect Kolkata to other Indian metros. NH2 and NH6 are two important road network connections to Kolkata. Internally, you can travel by cars, taxis, autos, hand-drawn rickshaws etc. Do take a tram ride, for its experience more than the commute itself.

Madhya Pradesh

MP is the heart of India, situated literally in the centre of the Indian subcontinent. It also becomes a hub of temples, forts and ancient ruins along with rivers that made life possible here in ancient times. Being in the hinterland and locked by land all around, MP is what can be called a classic continental climate. It is very hot during summers and very cold during winters. But October is a month that falls between these two seasons and hence makes Madhya Pradesh’s weather pleasant and endurable.

Things to Do:

Explore the Kanha Tiger Reserve, the Gwalior Fort and the intricate carvings of Khajuraho. In Bhopal you have museums, wildlife and historical monuments to keep you company. While when in Ujjain, you must visit the Kaal Bhairav Temple for the one of its kind deity that is the god of death and time. Alcohol is fed to the stone idol here and it is later offered as prasad to devotees. Tour Sanchi for Sanchi Stupa, Toranas and Monasteries. The Ashoka Pillar, Buddhist Vihara, Gupta Temple, and Sanchi Museum are also worth visiting to know about Buddhism that was born in this region, as well as King Asoka, who became a renowned follower of this religion.

How to Reach:

Raja Bhoj International Airport of Bhopal, Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Airport of Indore, Gwalior and Khajuraho Airports are some of the airports in this region. Air Deccan, IndiGo, Jet Airways, Air India, JetKonnect and SpiceJet are some of the airlines operating here. You can also use trains and every city has a major station or junction, including Bhopal, Indore, Gwalior, Jabalpur and Khajuraho. Cars and taxis are ready for hire, as are buses. You can book a seat in a private bus or the state run ones.