Best mountain places for a honeymoon

Mukteshwar, Gulmarg and Landour lead a list of 20. Places that suit couples: scenic, comfortable enough, and not a test of endurance.

Ranked from our own destination data on season, difficulty, altitude, cost and who each place suits. Not paid for, and not the same as “most popular”.

1. 1Uttarakhand · Nainital, KumaonMukteshwar2–3 days, about ₹2,800 a day each. Quiet in season.A quiet ridge town with a 350-year-old Shiva temple and a clean sweep of the Kumaon Himalaya.Best months: Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Oct, Nov · Why not: Very little nightlife or town activity; it's a stay-and-read place.
2. 2Kashmir · BaramullaGulmarg3–4 days, about ₹5,000 a day each. Busy in season.India's ski resort — deep powder, the Gondola to Apharwat, and meadows in summer.Best months: Jan, Feb, Mar, May, Jun · Why not: Expensive in peak winter and very crowded around New Year.
3. 3Uttarakhand · Mussoorie, DehradunLandour2–3 days, about ₹4,000 a day each. Moderately busy in season.The quiet cantonment above Mussoorie — deodar walks, old bakeries and writers' cottages.Best months: Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Oct, Nov · Why not: Mussoorie below is crowded and traffic-heavy on weekends.
4. 4Himachal · KulluManali & Solang3–5 days, about ₹3,500 a day each. Busy in season.The classic honeymoon and family hill station, with winter snow at Solang and Atal Tunnel.Best months: Dec, Jan, Feb, May, Jun, Oct · Why not: Traffic jams and crowds in peak season; it can feel like a city in the hills.
5. 5Nepal · Kaski, GandakiPokhara3–4 days, about ₹3,500 a day each. Busy in season.Lakeside town under the Annapurnas — boating, paragliding, cafes and sunrise at Sarangkot.Best months: Oct, Nov, Dec, Feb, Mar, Apr · Why not: Views hide behind haze and cloud from May to September.
6. 6Kashmir · SrinagarSrinagar & Dal Lake2–3 days, about ₹4,000 a day each. Busy in season.Houseboats, shikaras, Mughal gardens and old-city food.Best months: Apr, May, Sep, Oct · Why not: A city, not the mountains themselves — combine with Gulmarg, Pahalgam or Sonamarg.
7. 7Uttarakhand · Almora, KumaonBinsar3–4 days, about ₹3,500 a day each. Quiet in season.An oak and rhododendron wildlife sanctuary with a 300 km sweep of Himalayan peaks.Best months: Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov · Why not: No town life and limited power in the sanctuary — that's the point, but not for everyone.
8. 8Himachal · ChambaDalhousie & Khajjiar3–4 days, about ₹2,800 a day each. Moderately busy in season.Five hills of colonial charm plus the 'Mini Switzerland' meadow of Khajjiar at 1,920 m.Best months: Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct, Nov · Why not: Far from everything else; a long detour from Manali or Shimla.
9. 9Himachal · SolanKasauli2–3 days, about ₹2,800 a day each. Moderately busy in season.A small colonial cantonment town on a ridge an hour above Chandigarh, with pine walks and old churches.Best months: Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Sep, Oct, Nov · Why not: Small; there is very little to do beyond walking and eating.
10. 10Uttarakhand · Nainital, KumaonNainital3–4 days, about ₹3,000 a day each. Busy in season.The classic Kumaon lake town — Naini Lake, the Mall Road, Snow View and Naina Peak.Best months: Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct, Nov · Why not: Very crowded in summer and on long weekends; parking is a nightmare.
11. 11Kashmir · AnantnagPahalgam3–4 days, about ₹4,000 a day each. Busy in season.Lidder river valley of meadows, pine forest and pony rides — Kashmir's family favourite.Best months: Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct · Why not: Crowded during the Amarnath Yatra (July–August) with heavy security.
12. 12Himachal · ShimlaShimla3–4 days, about ₹3,000 a day each. Busy in season.The former summer capital of British India — the Mall, Ridge, Jakhoo temple and the toy train.Best months: Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec · Why not: Very crowded in summer; traffic on the Cart Road is slow all day.
13. 13Uttarakhand · Joshimath, ChamoliAuli4–5 days, about ₹3,500 a day each. Moderately busy in season.Snow slopes with a view of Nanda Devi, and India's best-known ski meadow outside Gulmarg.Best months: Jan, Feb, Mar, Oct, Nov · Why not: Snowfall is unreliable some winters; check reports before booking a ski trip.
14. 14Nepal · Tanahun, GandakiBandipur2–3 days, about ₹2,500 a day each. Quiet in season.A preserved Newari hill town on a ridge above the Marsyangdi, between Kathmandu and Pokhara.Best months: Oct, Nov, Dec, Feb, Mar, Apr · Why not: Small; two nights is plenty unless you're using it as a trek base.
15. 15Himachal · SolanChail2 days, about ₹2,500 a day each. Quiet in season.A former princely summer capital with the world's highest cricket ground and deodar forest all around.Best months: Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct, Nov · Why not: Small; the palace and cricket ground are the main draws.
16. 16Uttarakhand · UttarkashiHarsil2–3 days, about ₹2,500 a day each. Quiet in season.A Bhagirathi-side village of apple orchards and deodar forest, once called 'Mini Switzerland'.Best months: Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct · Why not: Almost no infrastructure — homestays only, and the road closes in heavy winter snow.
17. 17Uttarakhand · Bageshwar, KumaonKausani2–3 days, about ₹2,500 a day each. Quiet in season.A ridge town facing a 300 km wall of peaks — Nanda Devi, Trishul and Panchachuli all in one frame.Best months: Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct, Nov · Why not: Small and slow; two nights is usually enough.
18. 18Himachal · KangraPalampur2–3 days, about ₹2,200 a day each. Quiet in season.Kangra tea gardens and pine forest below the Dhauladhar, with the Neugal Khad at its edge.Best months: Mar, Apr, May, Sep, Oct, Nov · Why not: No dramatic viewpoint; it's a base, not a destination in itself.
19. 19Darjeeling hills · Kalimpong, West BengalRishyap (Rishop)2–3 days, about ₹2,000 a day each. Quiet in season.A hamlet of homestays on a ridge with a wide Kanchenjunga panorama.Best months: Oct, Nov, Dec, Mar, Apr · Why not: Very basic; you come for the view and the quiet.
20. 20Kashmir · BudgamYusmarg2–3 days, about ₹2,500 a day each. Quiet in season.A bowl of alpine meadow in the Pir Panjal, 47 km from Srinagar, with pine slopes and pony trails.Best months: Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct · Why not: Facilities are minimal and it is often done as a rushed day trip.