As we find ourselves nearing the end of the year, there are a lot of celebrations lined up ahead – Christmas being one of the main ones. India, being a country that celebrates every festivity, people find themselves at a great Christmas destination in time for their winter holidays and New Year celebrations! Here is a list of the best places to spend Christmas in India.
8 Best places to spend Christmas in India
What to pack for India in winters to enjoy Christmas?
Indian winters are not too harsh. However, the temperature range fluctuates depending upon the place of your destination. It gets colder as you move north but the presence of a water body dilutes the chilliness felt. The kind of clothes you will need to carry vary upon your tolerance to cold. A detailed explanation of the same is given below so read on!
Check out Kosha’s winter wear collection here!
Outerwear like puffer jackets, parkas or a coat
Winter layering includes three main types ; namely Outerwear or shell layers, mid-layers and base layers. The outerwear category includes garments made of thick fabrics like overcoats, parkas, puffer jackets and more.
Winter in India can get a little extreme towards the north.The cold experience gets a little too much especially to residents of the home country. Winter layering should be kept in mind as it is better to be wholly prepared during trips.
Kosha’s range of parkas, puffer jackets is a must-see. These winter jackets ensure warmth and comfort in a temperature range as vast as 0 degrees Celsius to – 20 degrees Celsius.
Check the Fleece lined puffer jacket for men here
Check the Fleece lined puffer jacket for women here
Sweaters and Pullovers
Winter classics like sweaters can never go wrong but make sure that these comfort garments suit the temperature range of the destination you are visiting. Sweaters usually provide relief in moderately cool areas.
People also prefer carrying and wearing two sweaters to gain the required warmth. This, however, depends upon the weight and compressibility of the sweaters you choose to carry.
Kosha’s range of sweaters and sweater vests are a great fit for casual winters as they ensure great warmth and comfort while being compressible and light in weight. These are suitable for a temperature range that extends from 15 degrees Celsius to 5 degrees Celsius.
Kosha’s sweater for men
Kosha’s sweater for women
Base layers
As mentioned above, baselayers form the innermost lining of winter layering. These act as the preliminary covering that builds the foundation for other layers.
Base layers are worn beneath your regular clothing and due to the constant touch of the fabric, the material must be soft on the skin. They maintain the warmth by making sure that the bodily heat doesn’t escape. These layers also see to it that no chilly wind surpasses them thus ensuring the ultimate warmth.
Kosha’s range of base layers is made with a unique combination of bamboo and merino wool. After getting feedback from a client, it was brought to attention that base layers made solely out of merino wool can get itchy on the skin, so Kosha reinvented the product. The result of which is a softer, itch-free, stronger range of base layers.
Wear these base layers by themselves in a temperature range of 15 degrees Celsius to 5 degrees Celsius. After pairing them with suitable layers, they can be worn in temperatures as low as – 20 degrees Celsius.
Check out base layers for men here
Check out base layers for women here
Woolen bottoms – Snow Pants
While visiting places of extreme cold, ensure that you carry the correct winter pants. A thick insulating material is preferred that is also compressible.
Winter pants or snow pants are waterproof thus providing protection from the rain and snow. They also ensure breathability and free flow of movements which is a must during winter sports like skiing.
Check out snow pants for men here
Check out snow pants for women here
Warm accessories
Winter accessories make for the informal fourth part of the winter layering process. They are as useful as they are underrated. The otherwise exposed areas of the body like the neck area, hands and feet, ears and head attract chilly winds.
To shield these areas and maintain the body temperature, winter accessories like scarves, mufflers, shawls, mittens, gloves, socks, beanies, earmuffs etc should be carried.
Some accessories like gloves not only shield the hands, they also are necessary for gaining a grip when the palms go numb during extreme cold. Covering the ears goes a long way in maintaining the heat that is generated by the body.
If not earmuffs or monkey caps, make sure you wear cotton balls in your ears.
Winter accessories are an essential prerequisite and must be carried during every winter trip. To make sure that the efforts you take when you research and pack the correct winter garments do not go to waste, carry the right winter accessories.
Check out accessories here
Warm shoes or boots
Just like the ears, it is also essential that the feet remain warm to insulate the rest of the body. Apart from the insulation purposes, trips, in general, contain a lot of walking, running, climbing etc depending upon the purpose of the trip. Thus, one must put a lot of thought into the kind of shoes they will be carrying.
Winter demands warm and comfortable shoes that can work well on snowy or slippery surfaces. The footwear carried should cover the feet entirely (refrain from carrying slippers) and should also not be too light in weight in case trekking or skiing is in the picture.
Make sure you carry a pair (or two) of shoes that are of your exact size. A size too tight or too loose can lead to blisters and shoe bites. Pair your footwear with the correct socks and you are good to go!
Check out winter boots for men here
Check out winter boots for women here
Warm socks
Shoes by themselves, solve half the purpose of keeping your feet warm. To shield your feet from the cold and sometimes from the discomfort of particular shoes, taking the correct pair of socks along is necessary.
Kosha’s range of No Blister socks is a great option. Made from merino wool, these socks are as warm as they are comfortable. In addition to that, these have arch support and are made breathable for better utility. They are made with a unique mesh weave that allows free flow of movement to the feet while making them breathable.
Use these by themselves in a wide temperature range of 40 degrees Celsius to 10 degrees Celsius. With the correct layering, these can be worn in temperatures as low as -20 degrees Celsius.
Check out Kosha’s socks for men here
Check out Kosha’s socks for women here
#1 Goa
There is no hierarchy or order of preference that must be followed while looking at this list to decide upon a destination. However, Goa tops my list of top holiday destinations and Christmas lights up Goa like nothing else. With plenty of churches in the vicinity, Goa celebrates a traditional Christmas with rum cakes, plum cakes and other delicacies.
Replete with serene beaches and lip-smacking seafood, Goa is a popular destination for all party lovers. It should also be noted that Goa can be a great low-key place for staycations or even chilling during winters.
Resting chairs set across the coastline of various popular beaches make it a great place to get warm and comfy with a rug and a book.
Being a party destination, there is a wide variety of liquor options to choose from with Goan Feni (can be cashew or coconut-based) being the speciality. Make sure you visit a beach shack and have their pepper gravy steak but only when you are done devouring the prawns and crabs.
North Goa encapsulates most of the party atmosphere by having a variety of clubs and other party places. Goa is pleasantly cool during the winter with a temperature range of 21 degrees Celsius to 28 degrees Celsius.
#2 Mumbai
Formerly known as Bombay, the city of Mumbai is truly a home to all the diverse cultures that exist in India. Here, every festivity is celebrated wholeheartedly by the city residents (fondly referred to as Mumbaikars).
Celebrating Christmas in India in winter.
As communities are residing in groups, certain areas of Mumbai have a higher number of churches. Places like Bandra, Colaba, Mahim, Fort area, Byculla have a cluster of churches thus making them Christmas hotspots.
Mumbai is a city that never sleeps and is constantly working. However, nobody parties harder than workaholics. The city is equally famous for its buzzing nightlife. There are several clubs, cafes and restaurants that host Christmas parties.
Mumbai is covered with a rich coastline on one side. This is why there are plenty of beaches found here. As one moves south, the beaches start to have unique triangular boulder-like structures. These are called tetrapods and they are seen in places like Mumbai, Japan and in remote areas of Germany.
Mumbai’s marine drive is known for these rocks. Enjoy Christmas Eve while taking a night stroll across the promenades of the marine drive. When in Mumbai, do make it a point that you try the local trains of the city. With a station every 2-3 minutes, it is the most efficient method of travelling in the city.
Being in such proximity to the sea, Mumbai encounters humid winters. During peak winter, the temperatures here extend from 32 degrees Celsius to 17 degrees Celsius.
#3 Puducherry
Now known as Puducherry, this union territory is located along the coast of South India. It shares its borders with the state of Tamil Nadu. Pondicherry was a French colony in the past and to this date shows pieces of evidence of its colonised past. Today, Pondicherry is also known as the French capital of India.
There are plenty of serene, unadulterated beaches that can be visited over here. These beaches offer water sports like scuba diving, boating etc. Due to the availability of several churches, Christmas is a celebrated festival in this winter destination.
There is la Marche de noel or Christmas Markets that can be visited for shopping.
Christmas carols are sung on the promenades overlooking the sea. Pondicherry is adorned with Christmas decorations and it is a sight to gawk at during Christmas time. The average winter temperature range here extends from 21 degrees Celsius to 31 degrees Celsius.
#4 Diu Daman
Owing to its Portuguese history, Diu and Daman have a set of culturally rich pasts that have lasting impacts that can be seen even today. Daman is a city located in the state of Gujarat and at some distance from Mumbai. Diu is a town that forms a part of the coastal island of Diu.
Both Diu and Daman are similar when it comes to their cultures. Due to the concentrated presence of churches in both of these places, Christmas is celebrated lavishly. There is midnight mass, public fair, Portuguese dances to look forward to during the Christmas celebration.
The towns are decorated with fairy lights and traditional lamps that make the place super Christmassy and aesthetically pleasing. The average winter temperature in this region extends from 10 degrees Celsius to 24 degrees Celsius.
#5 Shillong
Shillong aka ‘The abode of clouds’ is the capital city of the state of Meghalaya in Northeast India. The entire northeastern region of the country is generally not the top choice for trips. However, this underrated part of the country hides its most beautiful gems. Why not take a trip to all the seven sisters of Northeastern India?
Shillong is a hill station with multiple pristine lakes and natural walking pathways for lovers of nature. Due to a great number of churches, Christmas here is a famous affair with carols playing in all of Meghalaya and Christmas trees at every nook and corner of the state. There is local cuisine that one must try when they get time from the shopping which is also a must-do over here.
Keep in mind that the average temperature in Shillong during the winter months is 4 degrees Celsius so pack accordingly!
#6 Kolkata
Formerly known as Calcutta, Kolkata is known as the city of Joy! It was the capital of the country during the British Raj. The exuberant festive spirit of the city gives justice to its lively, cheerful and joyous image.
Culturally rich, the city of Kolkata is leading in creative fields of drama, fine arts, music and so much more. Great artists like Satyajit Ray have made Calcutta the muse of their writings.
Visiting Kolkata during winters is a great idea as their flagship festival of Durga Puja is also held around October.
Make a staycation out of this visit or a two-month-long trip in order to experience Durga Puja, Christmas and New Year in this city. Kolkata has so much to offer when it comes to Christmas! In Kolkata, vibe at live performances, attend midnight mass service, go for concerts, dance your heart out at clubs and pubs, enjoy the Christmas parties, traditional food stalls and don’t forget to try something new!
Make sure you pay a visit to the classic Christmas tourist places like Bow Barracks, the St Paul’s Cathedral and Park Street to see Kolkata at its best!
The winter temperature in Kolkata ranges from 12 degrees Celsius to 29 degrees Celsius.
#7 Kochi
Formerly known as Cochin, this city in the state of Kerala is a very important port. Due to its advantageous placement, it is also known as ‘The Queen of the Arabian Sea’. Kochi is home to several churches making it a splendid destination for Christmas!
Along with the decorated homes of the locals, Kochi also sees lights, Christmas lanterns, candles etc in its neighbourhoods. There are Christmas carols and prayers at the churches, midnight mass, music concerts and live gigs, one can also enjoy the nightlife by visiting the local clubs and pubs.
When in Kochi, make sure you relish the local cuisine here – The local prawns, crabs, coconut rice, appam, dosas and much more. Also try the Christmas specials like rum cakes, plum cakes and such.
The winter temperature range here is from 24 degrees Celsius to 32 degrees Celsius.
#8 Delhi
Delhi is the capital of India. Along with that, it is also a union territory. This also means that there is a lot to cover during Christmas time. As there are plenty of Christian communities present in Delhi, Christmas here is a pompous affair!
Places to visit during the Christmas season include the traditionally aesthetic Sacred Heart Cathedral Church, Cathedral Church of Redemption, St James’ Church, the German Christmas market, Oz Haat mela and get to see the nativity scene up close. Pay a visit to the choir at the capital city Minstrel.
The nightlife in Delhi is also very popular with the existence of clubs and pubs in abundance.
Treat yourselves by tasting the local Christmas special delicacies like rum cakes, plum cakes, beer, wine German cakes, German sausages, roast turkey and much more.
The average range of winter temperature in Delhi is from 8 degrees Celsius to 24 degrees Celsius.
Conclusion: Should you visit India for Christmas?
India is a melting pot of cultures. All the Christmas destinations mentioned in this piece of writing have their unique style of celebrating the festival due to the city’s background and history. There are many more places like Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Ooty, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore and more.
If you do not reside in India and are looking to make a trip to the country, winter would be the perfect season. Summers tend to be too hot with temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius in some parts of the country.
Try visiting India during Christmas and stay till the end of December to get to know the people, cuisines and essence of the country. In India, you will find every state unique with its language and way of living.
If you are a local tourist interested in exploring other states, you are one step ahead already! Make sure you plan the kind of trip that lets you explore, wander and take in all that you intend to learn from a new destination! If you are looking for travel tips, one suggestion would be to research in advance as you tend to get great discounts on hotels and tour packages when you book early.
For all your winter-related queries, visit the Kosha store (Khar west, Mumbai) or the Kosha website here.
Happy Holidays!
This post was written by Kosha Team member – Sanika Totade
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