Monsoons and Tourism in India
After the enervating heat of the early summer, India's monsoon breathes new life into the parched and dusty landscape. While most travelers have typically avoided India during the wet season, some are beginning to appreciate the unique thrills offered by the Indian monsoon. From kids splashing in puddles, to entire crowds huddled beneath shared umbrellas, to rickshaws wading through rivers that were once roads, monsoon season can be beautiful and festive. When planning your India travel dates, think twice before avoiding this magical season.
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Promotion
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To increase the flow of tourists during this historically low season, the Indian Ministry of Tourism has sponsored campaigns in several Indian states to promote what is now called "monsoon tourism." In a National Seminar on Monsoon Tourism, the Ministry worked with delegations from each state involved to develop monsoon-themed travel packages. Kerala Tourism, for example, has begun marketing its monsoon-related festivals, theater, folklore and arts.
Destinations
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While just about every state in India presents something special during the monsoon season, the top monsoon destinations thus far remain the backwaters of Kerala and the beaches of Goa---Goa was the first state to promote monsoon tourism. Hotels in these states' tourist destinations reportedly reach 100% occupancy during the rainy season.
Other steadily growing monsoon destinations include Rajasthan, a desert state where the monsoon is welcomed with gratitude and festivities; Tamil Nadu, a colorful coastal state in the south with dense jungles and long beaches; and Madhya Pradesh, with its Pachmarhi hills, wildlife reserves, and serene historical landmarks. Also, India's far north in Jammu and Kashmir are only open during the monsoon season (blocked by snow the rest of the year), and the largely wild northeastern states, comprising one of the wettest regions of the world during the monsoon, make for some intense trekking and memorable ecotourism.
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Time Frame
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As monsoon tourism is rising in popularity each year, go soon to beat the rush. As for selecting months, the southwest monsoon lasts from late May or early June until September; the northeast monsoon lags slightly behind. Most states witness the first monsoon rains in June, the peak of rainfall in mid-July, and the last rush of rain before the beginning of October. In most destinations this season's perks include lower prices on airfare, tours and lodging.
Activities
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The vast majority of India's exciting activities and sites remain accessible during the monsoon season, although you may want to bring along an umbrella. In addition to specially crafted monsoon tour packages that include monsoon festivals and "rain walks," simply soaking up the lively atmosphere on the streets of India is reason enough to visit at this time.
Prospects
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The results of India's promotional push for monsoon tourism have been extremely positive, with significant rises in both international and domestic tourism. India's tourism ministry continues to combat this historical low season by pushing for better and more diverse tourist services as well as new employment opportunities within the tourism industry. Other states are set to follow the examples of such monsoon tourism success stories as Kerala and Goa.
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References
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- Photo Credit Anthon Jackson
