April in India is a season of quiet transformation. Winter loosens its hold, summer has not yet fully arrived, and the country reveals itself in perfect balance, sunlit days, clear skies, and landscapes gently coming alive. From snow-kissed mountains and mist-wrapped hills to golden fields and temple towns resonating with celebration, April is one of the best times to explore India.
This is when spring festivals such as Baisakhi, Ugadi, Vishu, Shad Suk Mynsiem, and Gudi Padwa bring regions to life, offering travellers an intimate connection with local culture, tradition, and community. April is also ideal for varied travel experiences, tea gardens in bloom, backwater cruises under open skies, wildlife sightings at their peak, and heritage cities before the summer crowds arrive.
In this guide to the best places to visit in India in April, we explore destinations that truly shine during this transitional month, whether you’re seeking incredible hill escapes, vibrant festivals, nature-rich journeys, or meaningful slow travel. April doesn’t just show you India; it invites you to experience it with clarity, colour, and soul.
1. Kerala
Kerala feels gentler than most places, slower, softer, and deeply anchored in ritual and rhythm. Life here moves to the cadence of water, prayer, and seasons. Palm-lined backwaters reflect quiet villages where fishing nets rise at dawn, temple lamps glow in the early light, and the air carries the scent of rain-soaked earth, coconut, and incense.
Travel in Kerala is never hurried; it unfolds gradually, like a story whispered rather than announced.Kathakali and Mohiniyattam performances echo myth and devotion, while village markets hum with the spice trade that once drew the world to these shores.
Festival: Vishu
Vishu, the Malayalam New Year celebrated in April, marks renewal, prosperity, and the start of the agricultural cycle. The day begins before sunrise with Vishu Kani, the sacred first sight, golden konna flowers, rice, fruits, coins, mirrors, and oil lamps, believed to influence the year ahead.
Celebrations continue with the Vishu Sadhya, an elaborate vegetarian feast served on banana leaves, followed by fireworks that light up village skies in a blend of devotion, joy, and family togetherness.
Best Things to Do
- Cruise through the backwaters of Alleppey and Kumarakom on a traditional houseboat
- Experience Vishu rituals in temples and local homes
- Wander through Munnar’s mist-laden tea gardens
- Relax on the cliffside beaches of Varkala
2. Punjab
Punjab is warmth given a heartbeat. It lives in open courtyards where laughter travels freely, in golden mustard and wheat fields stretching to the horizon, and in the instinctive generosity with which strangers are welcomed like family. Music pulses through daily life, dhol beats echo across villages, voices rise in spirited folk songs, and celebration feels like a way of being.
Shaped by resilience and pride, Punjab’s spirit is rooted in Sikh values of service, equality, and courage. Travel here is immersive and heartfelt, shared through meals, stories, and music that linger long after the journey ends.
Festival: Baisakhi
Celebrated in April, Baisakhi marks the harvest festival and Sikh New Year, commemorating the formation of the Khalsa in 1699. Fields turn festive, gurudwaras resonate with kirtan, and massive langars serve free meals to all. Village squares fill with bhangra and gidda, capturing Punjab at its most joyful, generous, and proud.
Best Things to Do
- Visit the Golden Temple in Amritsar at sunrise
- Witness the Wagah Border Retreat Ceremony
- Explore the Partition Museum
- Enjoy authentic Punjabi cuisine and folk performances
3. Meghalaya
Meghalaya feels alive, alive with rain, roots, and rhythm. Clouds drift through emerald hills, waterfalls tumble endlessly, and forests feel sacred rather than untamed. Here, nature is revered and woven into everyday belief.
Life moves in harmony with the elements. Living root bridges grow patiently over generations, mist softens every horizon, and songs rise naturally from the hills. Travel in Meghalaya is contemplative, inviting you to slow down and reconnect.
Festival: Shad Suk Mynsiem
The Khasi thanksgiving festival Shad Suk Mynsiem, held in Shillong during spring, celebrates gratitude to nature and divine forces. Dancers in traditional attire perform ceremonial movements symbolising peace, purity, and balance, offering rare insight into a culture where celebration and reverence are inseparable.
Best Things to Do
- Walk through the Mawphlang Sacred Forest
- Visit Umiam Lake and Elephant Falls
- Explore Laitlum Canyons for panoramic views
- Experience the indigenous Khasi culture in Shillong
4. Maharashtra
Maharashtra welcomes the new year with quiet confidence and vibrant symbolism. As spring unfolds, cities and villages alike are refreshed, homes are swept clean, doorways bloom with rangoli, and a gentle sense of renewal settles into everyday life. The rhythm of the state during this time feels purposeful yet calm, blending age-old traditions with the energy of modern living. Travel in Maharashtra during the New Year season offers an intimate look at how heritage, faith, and community continue to shape daily life.
Festival: Gudi Padwa
Celebrated in March or April, Gudi Padwa marks the Marathi New Year and the beginning of a new harvest cycle. The festival takes its name from the Gudi, a bamboo pole adorned with bright silk cloth, neem leaves, fresh flowers, and topped with an inverted copper or silver pot. Raised outside homes, the Gudi symbolises victory, prosperity, protection, and good fortune for the year ahead.
Families come together to prepare traditional dishes that carefully balance sweet and bitter flavours, most notably neem leaves mixed with jaggery, an edible reminder that life is made of contrasting experiences, both to be accepted with grace.
Best Things to Do
- Walk through old Pune during Gudi Padwa
- Visit Siddhivinayak Temple or Shaniwar Wada
- Taste puran poli and neem-jaggery preparations
- Explore heritage markets in Mumbai and Pune
5. Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh remains one of India’s most understated yet enriching travel destinations. Framed by ancient temples, fertile river plains, and a long, sunlit coastline, the state offers experiences that feel rooted rather than rushed. In April, Andhra Pradesh reveals itself at its most thoughtful and welcoming, when daily life slows just enough to make space for reflection, ritual, and renewal.
Travel during this season offers a more intimate connection with the land and its people. Towns and villages feel freshly awakened, homes are decorated with mango leaves and rangoli, and conversations turn toward new beginnings.
Festival: Ugadi
Ugadi, the Telugu New Year, marks the beginning of the Chaitra month and the arrival of spring. The day traditionally begins with early morning oil baths and temple visits, setting a tone of purity and intention. Central to the celebration is Ugadi Pachadi, a symbolic dish that combines sweet, sour, bitter, salty, spicy, and tangy flavours, each representing a different experience of life and teaching acceptance of both joy and hardship.
Homes and temples host Panchanga Sravanam, the ceremonial reading of astrological forecasts that offer insight into the year ahead. These readings connect individuals to cosmic rhythms and reinforce themes of wisdom, balance, and conscious living. Calm yet profound, Ugadi in Andhra Pradesh is a celebration of renewal, inviting travellers to pause, reflect, and begin again with clarity.
Best Things to Do
- Visit temples in Tirupati, Vijayawada, or Srikalahasti
- Experience Ugadi celebrations in traditional homes
- Taste authentic Ugadi Pachadi and festive meals
- Explore heritage towns adorned with mango leaves and rangoli
Conclusion
India is not meant to be rushed. It is meant to be felt, through festivals that honour the land, rituals that preserve memory, and places that quietly transform you. From Punjab’s harvest dances to Kerala’s sacred dawn rituals, from Meghalaya’s thanksgiving songs to Andhra’s reflective new beginnings, every state invites you into a story that is ancient, living, and deeply human. To travel through India in April is to travel through time, faith, and celebration itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is April a good time to travel in India?
Yes. April offers pleasant weather in many regions, clear skies, vibrant festivals, and fewer crowds than in the peak summer months. - Which festivals are celebrated in India in April?
Major April festivals include Baisakhi (Punjab), Vishu (Kerala), Ugadi (Andhra Pradesh), Shad Suk Mynsiem (Meghalaya), and Gudi Padwa (Maharashtra).
- What are the best states to visit in India in April?
Kerala, Punjab, Meghalaya, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh are excellent choices due to festivals, weather, and cultural experiences.
- Is April suitable for family travel in India?
Yes. April is ideal for family travel, offering cultural festivals, wildlife safaris, scenic landscapes, and comfortable travel conditions.
- Are hill stations good to visit in April?
Absolutely. Hill destinations like Munnar and Meghalaya offer cool temperatures and lush scenery in April.
- What should I pack for India in April?
Light cotton clothing, sun protection, comfortable footwear, and modest attire are recommended for temple visits.
- . Is April expensive for travel in India?
April is generally mid-season. Prices are reasonable compared to peak winter travel, especially before school summer vacations begin.
