Himalaya in January

India's ski resort — deep powder, the Gondola to Apharwat, and meadows in summer.

A winter walk on the frozen Zanskar river through a deep gorge, at temperatures far below zero.

A hidden Uhl-river valley of trout hatcheries, deodar forest and the Rajgundha trek.

A former princely summer capital with the world's highest cricket ground and deodar forest all around.

Five hills of colonial charm plus the 'Mini Switzerland' meadow of Khajjiar at 1,920 m.

Home of the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan government-in-exile, and a strong cafe-and-monastery scene.

Wooden homestays by trout streams, Jalori Pass and Serolsar lake, Great Himalayan National Park at the door.

A shallow freshwater lake at 2,934 m below the Minkiani Pass, through cedar and rhododendron forest.

A small colonial cantonment town on a ridge an hour above Chandigarh, with pine walks and old churches.

The classic honeymoon and family hill station, with winter snow at Solang and Atal Tunnel.

Kangra tea gardens and pine forest below the Dhauladhar, with the Neugal Khad at its edge.

A floating-island lake and pagoda temple on a high grassy bowl.

The former summer capital of British India — the Mall, Ridge, Jakhoo temple and the toy train.

A short ridge hike above McLeodganj with the Dhauladhar wall right in front of you.

The cultural capital of Kumaon — a horseshoe ridge town of temples, bazaars and Kasar Devi.

Snow slopes with a view of Nanda Devi, and India's best-known ski meadow outside Gulmarg.

Two quieter Kumaon lakes 20 minutes below Nainital, with paragliding and lakeside cottages.

An oak and rhododendron wildlife sanctuary with a 300 km sweep of Himalayan peaks.

A winter trek with frozen lakes and close views of Trishul and Nanda Ghunti.

A secluded cantonment above the Yamuna with Tiger Falls, deodar forest and Chilmiri Neck.

A short climb to the highest Shiva temple in the world and a 360° Himalayan summit.

Rolling alpine meadows at 3,600 m with a gentle gradient — the friendliest high-altitude trek in Garhwal.

A short climb to a forest lake that mirrors Chaukhamba on a still morning.

Where the Ganga leaves the mountains — Har Ki Pauri, the evening aarti, and the gateway to Char Dham.

A cluster of over 100 ancient stone temples inside a deodar forest, dating to the 8th–12th century.

Forest and meadow country on the Mussoorie–Chamba road, with camping and ziplining.

A ridge town facing a 300 km wall of peaks — Nanda Devi, Trishul and Panchachuli all in one frame.

The classic first winter trek: pine forest, snow camps and a summit sunrise over the Garhwal range.

The quiet cantonment above Mussoorie — deodar walks, old bakeries and writers' cottages.

A quiet Garhwal cantonment town of pine ridges, a golf course and the Garhwal Rifles museum.

A quiet ridge town with a 350-year-old Shiva temple and a clean sweep of the Kumaon Himalaya.

A remote Kumaon town facing the five peaks of Panchachuli.

The 'Queen of Hills' above Dehradun — Kempty Falls, Gun Hill, Camel's Back Road and the Mall.

A two-day weekend trek a few hours from Dehradun, with a camp under the stars.

The classic Kumaon lake town — Naini Lake, the Mall Road, Snow View and Naina Peak.

A cantonment hill station of pine and oak forest, golf greens and colonial-era quiet.

Yoga capital in the Himalayan foothills — ashrams, Ganga aarti, river rafting.

A preserved Newari hill town on a ridge above the Marsyangdi, between Kathmandu and Pokhara.

The two best-preserved Newari cities in the valley — Durbar Squares, courtyards and metalwork alleys.

A short, low-altitude teahouse loop through Gurung villages below the Annapurna South face.

A short teahouse trek to a famous sunrise over Dhaulagiri and Annapurna South.

The ancestral seat of the Shah dynasty, with the hilltop Gorkha Durbar and Gorakhnath temple.

Nepal's tea capital — emerald garden slopes, Antu Danda sunrises and Sandakphu views into India.

Pashupatinath, Boudhanath, Durbar Squares, and a Himalayan sunrise from Nagarkot.

The birthplace of the Buddha, with the Maya Devi Temple, the Ashoka Pillar and a monastic zone of world temples.

Lakeside town under the Annapurnas — boating, paragliding, cafes and sunrise at Sarangkot.

A historic hill town of Newari traders between Pokhara and Lumbini, with a durbar and metalwork bazaar.

The former Kingdom of Lo — cave cities, red cliffs and the walled capital of Lo Manthang.

Tea estates, the UNESCO toy train and sunrise over Kanchenjunga from Tiger Hill.

A quieter hill town of flower nurseries, monasteries and old colonial buildings.

Forest villages at the edge of Neora Valley National Park, with a canopy walk and birding trails.

A lake town ringed by tea gardens and orange orchards, near the Nepal border.

A hamlet of homestays on a ridge with a wide Kanchenjunga panorama.

A ridge trek along the India–Nepal border with Everest, Lhotse, Makalu and Kanchenjunga in one view.

Sikkim's tidy hill capital — MG Marg, Rumtek monastery and Kanchenjunga on clear mornings.

A wooden village under sheer cliffs and a valley of rhododendrons and hot springs, with Zero Point beyond.

A ridge town facing Kanchenjunga, with Pemayangtse monastery, Rabdentse ruins and a glass skywalk.

A ridge town with the giant Buddha Park, tea gardens below and Kanchenjunga views.

A glacial lake at 3,750 m and the old Silk Route pass on the China border, a day trip from Gangtok.

Sikkim's first capital — a quiet village of prayer flags, Dubdi monastery and the Khecheopalri lake nearby.

The zigzag Old Silk Route road through Zuluk, Thambi viewpoint and Kupup lake.

The foothill gateway to Arunachal on the Kameng river — angling, rafting and orchids.

A hill town with a large monastery, apple orchards and views over the Kameng valleys.

A river valley of Monpa villages, a stone dzong, hot springs and kiwi orchards on the Tawang road.

A remote valley near the China border with an old Buddhist monastery and the Siyom river.

India's largest monastery in a high valley near Bhutan and Tibet, reached over the snowy Sela Pass.

A wide valley of Apatani villages, pine hills and paddy fields, home to the Ziro Music Festival.

The Kamakhya Shakti Peeth on Nilachal hill, Brahmaputra cruises and Umananda island.

Assam's only hill station — a lake town in rolling hills, on a spectacular hill railway.

UNESCO-listed grassland home to most of the world's one-horned rhinos, plus tigers, elephants and wild buffalo.

A UNESCO tiger reserve on the Bhutan border, with golden langurs, elephants and the Manas river.

The glass-clear Umngot river on the Bangladesh border — boating, riverside camping and kayaking.

A turquoise-pool waterfall in the Jaintia hills where you can swim (with life jackets).

A grassy rim above huge green gorges, with steps down to the hidden village of Rasong.

A spotless Khasi village with a living root bridge and a bamboo sky-view tower over Bangladesh.

Often called the wettest place on earth, with a limestone cave and a natural Shiva-linga stalagmite.

A steep stair-trek into a jungle valley to living bridges grown from rubber-tree roots, and the Rainbow Falls.

A hill capital of pine ridges, cafes, live music and colonial-era lanes.

Plunging waterfalls like Nohkalikai, limestone caves and gorge views over Bangladesh.