Top Places near rivers & lakes in India

Known For : Marble Rocks Dhuandhar Falls Chausath Yogini Temple

Also regarded as the Marble Rocks of Bhedaghat, this small town has earned a reputation for the 100 ft tall resplendent rocks on either sides of Narmada in not only India, but all across the world. Bhedaghat is in close proximity of one of the major cities of Madhya Pradesh of Jabalpur.

Best Time: November to March

View hotels starting from ₹ 1,400

Known For : Bhimtal Lake Aquarium on the Bhimtal Island Hanuman Garhi

Rested at a height of 1370m above the sea level, Bhimtal is spotted with temples lying amid the verdant mountains and a pristine blue lake. The ancient town of Bhimtal is a place to lie down under the shade of nature, close your eyes and experience serenity.

Best Time: March to June, September to December

View packages starting from ₹ 5,000

Known For : Rose Garden Rock Garden

Chandigarh, a union territory that is the capital of both Punjab as well as Haryana is a subtle and ideal definition of the word 'city'. In a culture that includes instances of both traditional Punjab as well as a modernity, Chandigarh is a pretty town resembling a morning dream which is sure to flatter you with its innocence and pleasantness.

Best Time: August to March

View packages starting from ₹ 10,000

Known For : Double Decker Living Root Bridge Dawki Mawlynnong

Among the wettest place on the Earth, Cherrapunjee with its clean and pristine surroundings is an excellent place to sit back and unwind.

Best Time: September to May

View packages starting from ₹ 6,292

Known For : Devi Lake Pallivasal Falls Thoovanam Falls

A lake with a legend of its own, greenest sceneries, waterfalls and tea plantations are what offer its charm to Devikulam, a hill station in Kerala.

Best Time: November to May

Known For : Mahishadal Rajbari and Goplajew Temple Marine Drive, Haldia Sataku

Often considered as a mere river port assisting Kolkata, Haldia has more to offer to India than just foreign trade. With it's rich collection of heritage locations, temples and local markets, Haldia is geared upto be the next major tourist hub of West Bengal.

Best Time: October to March

Known For : Dhuandhar Falls Boat ride to Bhedaghat Sea World Water Park

Jabalpur, located on the shores of river Narmada, is an industrial city picking up as a tourist destination because of its splendid ghats, waterfalls and a mild glitter of historical and cultural structures.

Best Time: August to March

Known For : Nandprayag Karnaprayag

Being one of the highly blessed five confluences of the Alakananda River, Karnaprayag is a splendid town by default. Surrounded by verdant locales and snow capped mountains, host to chilly conditions and perennial rivers, this place was destined to be a spectacular tourist destination.

Best Time: October to June

Known For : Sightseeing in Lavasa Lakeside Promenade Bamboosa

Known as India's newest hill station, the Lavasa Corporation is constructing this private city. The city is a beautiful project, stylistically based on the Italian town Portofino. Spreading across 7 hills, covering an area of 25000 acres, Lavasa is a perfect blend of beauty and infrastructure.

Best Time: Throughout the year

Known For : Lonar crater lake Gomukh Temple Daitya Sudhan Temple

Along with being famous for a crater that was formed over 50,000 years ago due to the collision of a meteorite on the surface of the region, Lonar is also famous for its rich natural heritage.

Best Time: October to March

Known For : Kamalabari Satra Dakhinpat Satra Garmur

Majuli is a lush green environment-friendly, pristine and pollution free fresh water island in the river Brahmaputra, just 20 km from the Jorhat city.

Best Time: July to March

View hotels starting from ₹ 1,500

Known For : Mawsmai Caves Mawsmai Falls Nohalikalai Falls

Acknowledged as one of the wettest place in the world, the mesmerizing village of Mawsynram is a nature lover's delight and the perfect destination to behold the beauty of the rains. Mawsynram trounces Cherrapunjee by a slight margin in being the wettest place in India.

Best Time: September to November

View packages starting from ₹ 5,799

Known For : Parasnath Hills Kangsabati dam Ambikanagar

A popular weekend getaway for Kolkata locals, Mukutmanipur in the Bankura district of Kolkata is a serene town with lush green forests, clear blue water and green hills in the backdrop.

Best Time: October to March

Known For : Thrills Fun Park Umiam Lake Lum Nehru Park

Nongpoh, Meghalaya is a petite town to be found to the North of the East Khasi Hills. Situated very close to the gorgeous Brahmaputra plains, this location is quite a favourite as a stopover before reaching Shillong.

Best Time: Throughout the year

Known For : Shilloi Lake Khezhakeno Village Glory Peak

Phek is a hilly area rich in flora and fauna. Apart from the spell bounding hills, Shilloi lake is an important attraction.

Best Time: October to May

Known For : Rajsamand Lake Haldi Ghati Kankroli

Located 67 km North of the now popular destination wedding city of Udaipur, is the small town of Rajsamand. It got the name from the eponymous Rajsamand lake which is the second largest man-made lake in the world. Apart from the renowned historical edifices of Kumbhalgarh and Haldighati, the place also holds religious importance for different sects.

This is where the temple of Shrinathji stands, who was the chief deity of the Vaishnav community. Dwarakadhish temple believed to have a miraculous idol is also located in Rajsamand. The famous temple of Lord Vishnu with four hands (Charbhuja) is also situated here. Many temples dedicated to Lord Shiva can also be found here.

Best Time: October to March

Known For : Chaubatia Orchards Jhula Devi Temple Majhkhali

Ranikhet meaning Queen's farm, is a hill station developed by the Britishers around ancient temples, undulating Himalayan hills and forests.

Best Time: Throughout the year

View packages starting from ₹ 9,000

Known For : Mawlynnong Umiam Lake Elephant Falls

A beautiful city encircled by pine trees, Shillong is the capital of Meghalaya. It derives its name from Lei Shyllong, an idol worshipped at the Shillong Peak. Standing as tall as 1496 meters, Shillong provides a relief from the heat across the country. This hill station is known for its picturesque sights and traditions. The soothing climate makes Shillong suitable to visit in all seasons. The light drizzles and the cooling gentle wind adds to the joy of visiting this hill station. This place is also known as the ‘Scotland of the East’. One can find descendants of the Khyrim, Mylliem, Maharam, Mallaisohmat, Bhowal and Langrim tribes.

Best Time: September to May

View packages starting from ₹ 5,476

Known For : Lion Safari Wildlife Park Vanganga Lake Island Garden

With the hills of the Western Ghats and surrounding lush greenery, it is an ideal indulgence into the wild side for a tourist and its Portuguese heritage makes it famous amongst the history enthusiasts as well.

Best Time: November to June

View hotels starting from ₹ 1,000

Known For : Barak Waterfall Zeilad Lake Buning meadows

This hilly region is an ideal setting for tourists interested in outdoor holidays. The beauty of this town is unparalleled with the unusual varieties of flora and fauna.

Best Time: October to Apr

Known For : Ikop Khongjom Loktak Lake

A well developed city, Thoubal is a good holiday destination for those looking for a pleasant climate and numerous activities.

Best Time: October to May

Known For : Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary Chembara peak Soochipara Falls

62 kms off Kozhikode is Vythiri, a popular resort town famous for its old world charm of cottages, log huts & tree house accommodations cosily nestled in the forests of Wayanad. Situated at an altitude of 700 metres, Vythiri in Wayanad comprises of 18 villages.

Best Time: October to Apr

Known For : Simsang River Naka Chikong Domre Falls

Williamnagar was formed around the former town of Simsanggre, which is based on the large plains of the Simsang River. A very remote area usually known for its abundance of natural beauty i.e. being flanked by the mountains and having a rich composition of both water and vegetation.

Best Time: October to February

Known For : Lake Pichola City Palace, Udaipur Sajjangarh Palace

Udaipur, also known as the City of Lakes, is the crown jewel of the state of Rajasthan. It is surrounded by the beautiful Aravalli Hills in all directions, making this city as lovely as it is. This 'Venice of the East' has an abundance of natural beauty, mesmerising temples and breathtaking architecture which makes it a must-visit destination in India.  A boat ride through the serene waters of Lake Pichola will be enough to prove to you why Udaipur is the pride of Rajasthan.

Best Time: October to March

View packages starting from ₹ 5,228

Known For : Dal Lake Mughal Gardens, Srinagar Nishat Bagh

Famously known as ‘Heaven on Earth’, Srinagar is every bit the epitome of paradise on earth. As picturesque as the most stunning painting to ever be painted, Srinagar, the capital of Jammu and Kashmir, lies on the banks of the Jhelum river, and has a cool, pleasant climate all year round, contributing to the perpetual influx of tourists visiting this city which offers a plethora of gorgeous scenic vistas.

Best Time: April to October

View packages starting from ₹ 4,514

Known For : Houseboats Alappuzha Beach Backwaters in Alleppey

Extremely famous for its beautiful backwaters, the city of Alleppey in Kerala is also known for its beaches, temples and traditional boat races. This popular tourist destination also has some very well reputed Ayurvedic spas and wellness centres.

Best Time: June to March

View packages starting from ₹ 7,500

Known For : Ganga Aarti in Haridwar Har Ki Pauri Chandi Devi Temple

No spiritual journey can ever be considered complete without a visit to Haridwar, one of the holiest pilgrimage sites for Hindus. Literally meaning 'the abode of Lord Vishnu', Haridwar, located in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand, is a land of legends and myths. Considered as one of the seven holiest cities in India, Haridwar sees millions of people flock to it every year to pay their respects to the Lord, or to wash away their sins. However, with the passage of time, Haridwar has evolved from being a mere religious city to a multifaceted cultural and spiritual centre, and only after exploring Haridwar will you realize that there is a lot more to the city than just visiting temples and taking a dip in the holy Har ki Pauri. Haridwar has a perennial mystical air around i, and is the perfect holiday option for anyone seeking spiritual connection as well as a chance to indulge in and get closer to nature.

Best Time: Throughout the year

View packages starting from ₹ 4,100

Known For : Upper lake Van Vihar, Bhopal Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya

Amidst two beautiful man-made lakes, the capital of Madhya Pradesh is a sprawling city with the right blend of culture, heritage and modern life.

Best Time: July to March

View packages starting from ₹ 6,500

Known For : Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary Backwaters Vellavali

Situated on the banks of Vembanad Lake, Kerala's largest lake, Kumarakom is a cluster of many small man-made islands reclaimed from the lake.

Best Time: September to March

View packages starting from ₹ 8,800

Known For : Bhakra Nangal Dam Gobind Sagar Lake Water Sports and Fishing

Bilaspur is a hill town near Shimla, famous for its forts and Gobind Sagar lake, a man-made reservoir considered the lifeline of the district.

Best Time: Throughout the year