Best Places to Visit in April (2027): India and Abroad
April is when the plains get hot and the mountains open their doors. Here is where it pays to go, what is still closed, and how to use the Ram Navami long weekend.
April is the first proper summer month in most of India. Ahmedabad and the rest of Gujarat cross 38–40°C by the middle of the month, Rajasthan and the Deccan follow, and coastal humidity starts to build. At the same time the Himalaya is waking up: snow retreats from the lower slopes, mountain roads reopen one by one, and rhododendrons flower across Sikkim, Uttarakhand and Bhutan. That makes the best places to visit in April mostly the cool ones – hill stations, high valleys and a few islands with steady sea breezes – plus a short list of countries where spring is at its peak.
Two things set April 2027 apart. First, there is a five-day holiday cluster from Wednesday 14 April (Ambedkar Jayanti) to Sunday 18 April (Mahavir Jayanti), with Ram Navami on Thursday 15 April; one day of leave on Friday 16 April joins it up. Second, Gujarat board schools hold annual exams for Std 9–11 from 5 to 20 April 2027 and close for summer only on 3 May, so for many school-going families April is a planning month, not a travel month. This guide covers both: an open-or-closed check, a verdict table with costs, hill stations, wildlife, islands, countries abroad and a note on who should travel when. Dates and visa notes are as of October 2026; rules change – we check before you book.
Updated October 2026 by the Vibrant Holidays team, Ahmedabad.
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April 2027 calendar: holidays and what they change
| Date (2027) | Occasion | What it means for travel |
|---|---|---|
| Wed 7 April | Gudi Padwa, Ugadi, Cheti Chand; Chaitra Navratri begins | Regional holidays in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra and Telangana; Vaishno Devi and Ambaji busier for nine days |
| 5 – 20 April | Gujarat board school annual exams (Std 9–11) | Most Gujarati families with teenagers wait for May |
| 13 – 15 April | Songkran in Thailand; Sinhala and Tamil New Year in Sri Lanka (13–14) | Water festival in Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket; some Sri Lankan shops and offices shut for two days |
| Wed 14 April | Ambedkar Jayanti (national holiday), Baisakhi, Bohag Bihu, Tamil New Year | Golden Temple and Anandpur Sahib crowded for Baisakhi; Bihu dances across Assam until 16 April |
| Thu 15 April | Ram Navami; Vishu in Kerala | Very large crowds at Ayodhya; Bhadrachalam and Ram temples everywhere; Guruvayur busy for Vishu |
| Sun 18 April | Mahavir Jayanti | Jain families often stay home or visit Palitana, Girnar or Ranakpur; plan trips to start after it |
| Around mid-April | Srinagar tulip garden usually in its last days | In 2026 it closed to visitors on 16 April |
| Around 8–9 May | Akshaya Tritiya | Gangotri and Yamunotri traditionally open around this day, so Char Dham starts in May, not April, in 2027 |
Easter falls on 28 March in 2027, so Good Friday and Easter are a March story this year; many European school holidays still run into the first half of April, which keeps prices there firm until about the 18th. Eid al-Fitr is also in March, so Dubai and Malaysia have normal working hours throughout April. Festival dates can shift by a day between almanacs; confirm your local calendar for puja timings.
Open, closed or borderline: an April checklist
Most April disappointments come from booking a place that is not ready yet. This is the check we run before quoting.
- Open and good: Srinagar, Pahalgam and Gulmarg; Shimla, Kufri, Manali and Solang; the Atal Tunnel to Sissu (subject to snow clearance on the day); Gangtok, Pelling and Darjeeling; Nainital, Mussoorie and Rishikesh; Ooty, Kodaikanal, Coorg and Munnar; the Andaman Islands; Gir, Tadoba, Kanha and Bandhavgarh.
- Borderline: Sonamarg (road often open, but upper areas snowbound); Tsomgo Lake and Nathula in Sikkim (open on most days, closed after fresh snow, permits needed); Yumthang in North Sikkim (rhododendrons from late April, but roads depend on landslide clearance); Kaziranga (usually open until around the end of April before the monsoon closure).
- Closed or not worth it: Ladakh by road – the Manali–Leh highway usually opens in May or June, and the Srinagar–Leh road through Zojila reopens anywhere from late March to May depending on the year; Leh itself is reachable by air all year but nights are still below freezing. Rohtang Pass usually opens around May. The Spiti circuit, Chandratal and Kinnaur's higher villages are still snowbound. Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri open from early May 2027; Valley of Flowers and Hemkund Sahib only in June.
- Too hot for most: Rajasthan's desert cities, Hampi, Khajuraho, Varanasi and Delhi sightseeing after 11 am; the Rann of Kutch (Rann Utsav closed in March).
If your heart is set on Ladakh, Spiti or the Char Dham, read our Ladakh tour packages from Ahmedabad and Char Dham Yatra package from Ahmedabad pages and look at late May or June instead.
Verdict table: where to go in April, with costs
Ground costs are per person on twin sharing for standard-to-deluxe hotels, a private car where relevant, breakfast and sightseeing, excluding flights. The flight column is a typical return economy fare per person from Ahmedabad booked five to six weeks ahead. Both are indicative; the 14–18 April holiday window costs 10–20% more.
| Destination | April weather | Verdict | Ground cost (approx.) | Return flight from Ahmedabad |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kashmir | 8–22°C, fresh green, tulips early in the month | Go, ideally 1–15 April | ₹22,000 – 38,000 (5 nights) | ₹10,000 – 18,000 |
| Shimla and Manali | 8–24°C; snow only at Solang top and Sissu | Go | ₹16,000 – 30,000 (5–6 nights) | ₹9,000 – 15,000 (Chandigarh) |
| Sikkim and Darjeeling | 10–20°C, rhododendrons, clear mornings | Go | ₹24,000 – 42,000 (6 nights) | ₹11,000 – 19,000 (Bagdogra) |
| Nainital and Mussoorie | 12–26°C | Go, before the May crowds | ₹15,000 – 26,000 (5 nights) | ₹6,000 – 10,000 (Delhi) or train |
| Ooty, Kodaikanal and Coorg | 12–27°C, occasional evening showers | Go | ₹18,000 – 32,000 (5 nights) | ₹8,000 – 14,000 (Bengaluru) |
| Munnar and Thekkady | 15–27°C in the hills; coast hot | Go for the hills only | ₹17,000 – 30,000 (5 nights) | ₹9,000 – 16,000 (Kochi) |
| Andaman | 26–32°C, calm sea | Go; book ferries early | ₹28,000 – 45,000 (5 nights) | ₹14,000 – 24,000 |
| Goa | Humid, 33°C | Only for a resort-pool break | ₹10,000 – 22,000 (4 nights) | ₹6,000 – 11,000 |
| Bhutan | 8–22°C, rhododendrons on the passes | Go | ₹55,000 – 90,000 (6 nights, with fees) | Via Bagdogra or Delhi |
| Vietnam | North 20–28°C, centre and south warm | Go | ₹38,000 – 62,000 (6 nights) | ₹26,000 – 40,000 (one-stop) |
| Bali | Rains easing, 24–31°C | Go, especially late April | ₹30,000 – 55,000 (5 nights) | ₹28,000 – 42,000 |
| Thailand | Hottest month, 34–37°C | Go for Songkran or islands; avoid long city days | ₹22,000 – 40,000 (5 nights) | ₹18,000 – 30,000 |
| Turkey | 10–20°C, spring flowers | Go | ₹85,000 – 1,30,000 (7 nights) | ₹38,000 – 60,000 |
| Central Asia (Almaty, Tashkent, Baku) | Mild spring, 8–22°C | Go | ₹40,000 – 70,000 (5 nights) | ₹28,000 – 45,000 (via Delhi) |
| Dubai | 26–35°C | First half of April only | ₹28,000 – 50,000 (4 nights) | ₹16,000 – 28,000 |
Hill stations that are at their best in April
Kashmir: the tail of the tulip season and Gulmarg in transition
Srinagar in April is mild by day and cold at night, with chinar and willow leaves coming out along the Jhelum and Dal Lake. The Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden on the Zabarwan foothills, Asia's largest with around 18 lakh bulbs in 2026, opened on 16 March that year and closed to visitors on 16 April after an early, warm spell. The 2027 dates depend on the bloom and are normally announced in March, so treat the garden as a bonus in the first half of April rather than the only reason to go. Gulmarg is between seasons: patches of snow remain at the Gondola's upper phase, while the meadow itself turns green. Pahalgam's Betaab and Aru valleys are at their most photogenic once the snow melts. See Kashmir tour packages from Ahmedabad.
Shimla, Kufri and Manali
April is the gentlest month in Himachal. Shimla's Mall Road and the Ridge are comfortable for walking at 15–22°C, Kufri and Narkanda have a green-and-snowline view, and in Manali the Solang ropeway still reaches leftover snow at the top. The road through the Atal Tunnel to Sissu is usually open, giving families a snow day in Lahaul even when Manali town has none. Rafting on the Beas near Kullu begins around mid-April. Hotels are 20–30% cheaper than in May. See Shimla tour packages from Ahmedabad and Manali tour packages from Ahmedabad.
Sikkim and Darjeeling
This is rhododendron month. The Barsey sanctuary in West Sikkim and the slopes below Tsomgo Lake flower red, pink and white, and in a good year Yumthang Valley in North Sikkim starts its bloom at the end of April. Darjeeling's first-flush tea is being plucked, and the Toy Train runs through clear mornings with Kangchenjunga views more often than in May. Afternoons can turn cloudy, so we schedule viewpoints early. Read Sikkim and Darjeeling tour packages from Ahmedabad.
Uttarakhand without the yatra rush
Nainital, Bhimtal, Mussoorie and Rishikesh are pleasant before the Char Dham traffic starts in May and before the Delhi school holidays. Auli's snow has usually gone by April, but the Joshimath ropeway area offers wide Nanda Devi views and rhododendron forest walks. See Nainital and Mussoorie tour packages from Ahmedabad.
The southern hills
Ooty and Kodaikanal are at 12–25°C, with the lake boat clubs and botanical gardens before the May flower-show crowds from Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Coorg's coffee estates are lush after the March blossom showers, and Munnar's tea slopes are cool even when Kochi is sticky. Look at Coorg and Ooty packages from Ahmedabad or Kerala packages from Ahmedabad, which can be built around Munnar and Thekkady with just one backwater night.
Close to Gujarat
For a two- or three-night break without flights, Mount Abu (about 230 km from Ahmedabad) stays around 10 degrees cooler than the city, and Saputara in the Dangs is pleasant in the evenings. Both get very busy on the 14–18 April weekend; book hotels by February. See weekend getaways from Ahmedabad.
Wildlife in April: hot days, good sightings
Summer is a counter-intuitive but excellent time for safaris. Grass is dry and short, waterholes shrink, and tigers and leopards come out to drink, so sightings improve even as the heat climbs. Morning drives start around 6 am and are comfortable; afternoon drives are hot, and we suggest one safari a day for seniors and children.
- Gir National Park, Gujarat: open until mid-June. April mornings are among the best times to see Asiatic lions near the water points. Permits sell out on weekends and the 14–18 April holidays, so book as soon as dates are fixed.
- Tadoba, Kanha and Bandhavgarh: the classic summer tiger parks of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. Combine Kanha and Bandhavgarh on one six-night trip with a lodge that has a pool.
- Kaziranga: worth going in the first half of April for rhinos and elephants before the park winds down for the monsoon; combine with Bihu celebrations around 14 April in Assam.
Islands and coasts in April
- Andaman Islands: the strongest beach pick in India for April. The sea around Havelock and Neil is calm, visibility for snorkelling and diving remains high until the south-west monsoon arrives around mid-May, and the island breeze makes 32°C feel lighter than Goa at 33°C. Ferry tickets for the long weekend sell fast. See Andaman tour packages from Ahmedabad.
- Lakshadweep: calm lagoons until mid-May; entry needs a permit and capacity is small, so it suits couples who plan early.
- Goa: quiet, humid and good value. Works for a resort-and-pool family break or a couple who wants empty beaches at 7 am; not for long sightseeing days.
- Kerala coast: 33–35°C and humid. If Kerala is the plan, spend most nights in Munnar and Thekkady and keep the houseboat to one air-conditioned night.
Best countries to visit in April from India
Visa notes are as of October 2026; rules change – we check before you book. We prepare and submit visa applications; approval is at the embassy's or authority's discretion.
Vietnam: north and centre at their best
April is warm but not yet oppressive in Hanoi and Ha Long Bay (20–28°C), and Da Nang, Hoi An and Hue are dry with beach weather. The south is hot. A north-plus-centre route with an overnight Ha Long cruise and Ba Na Hills works well. Indians need the official e-visa; see the Vietnam e-visa guide and Vietnam tour packages from Ahmedabad.
Bali: the dry season begins
Rain eases through April, the rice terraces at Jatiluwih and Tegallalang are green, and May-style crowds have not arrived. Late April is the sweet spot for honeymooners. See Bali tour packages from Ahmedabad and the Bali visa guide.
Thailand: Songkran, heat and islands
Songkran, 13–15 April, turns Bangkok's Silom and Khao San roads and Chiang Mai's old city into a giant water fight. It is great fun for young groups and older children, less so for grandparents; Phuket and Krabi beach resorts are calmer. Indian tourists can enter Thailand visa-free for up to 30 days as of October 2026, with the online arrival card; see the Thailand visa guide.
Bhutan and Nepal
Rhododendrons flower on Dochula and Chelela passes, and the Paro valley is fresh and green; the Tiger's Nest hike is pleasant in the cool mornings. Some years the Paro Tshechu festival falls in late March or April, following the lunar calendar. Kathmandu and Pokhara are warm and clear, and April is a popular trekking month. See Bhutan tour packages from Ahmedabad and Nepal tour packages from Ahmedabad.
Turkey and Europe in full spring
Istanbul's parks, especially Emirgan, fill with tulips through April, and Cappadocia has mild days for walking and balloon flights at dawn whenever wind allows. In the Netherlands, Keukenhof's season typically runs from mid-March to mid-May (19 March to 10 May in 2026), and mid-April is usually peak bloom. Switzerland still has snow at Titlis and Jungfraujoch with green valleys below. Allow six to eight weeks for a Schengen visa – see the Schengen visa guide, Turkey packages and Europe packages from Ahmedabad.
Central Asia and Azerbaijan
Almaty, Tashkent, Samarkand and Baku are an April discovery for many Indian travellers: spring blossoms, 8–22°C, and short flights from Delhi. Kazakhstan allows Indian passport holders visa-free stays of up to 14 days as of October 2026; Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan issue e-visas. Food is meat-heavy, so pure-veg travellers should expect simple menus outside Indian restaurants, which exist in all three capitals.
Japan: for the late blossoms
By April, cherry blossom in Tokyo and Kyoto is usually at or past its peak in the first week; further north, Tohoku blooms in mid to late April and Hokkaido around the start of May. Indians need a Japan visa, so apply early and expect premium hotel prices.
Watch the heat: Dubai, Singapore, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and the Maldives
Dubai is fine for the first half of April (26–33°C) and gets uncomfortable after. Singapore and Malaysia have afternoon thunderstorms in the inter-monsoon months; mornings are clear. Malaysia's visa exemption for Indians runs to 31 December 2026, and its 2027 position had not been announced as of October 2026. Sri Lanka's hill country is pleasant, and its New Year falls on 13–14 April. The Maldives is hot and still mostly calm before the May change of season.
Who should travel in April, and how to time it
April suits some travellers far better than others. From what Gujarati families ask our team every spring:
- Couples and honeymooners: the best month of the year for value. Kashmir, Bali, Vietnam and Sikkim are in good shape, and the May family rush has not pushed up prices.
- Retired parents and senior citizens: April's mild hill weather and shorter queues make it easier than May. Choose Shimla, Kashmir or Ooty with one drive a day and hotels with lifts.
- Families with children under ten: primary-school calendars are usually lighter in April; the 14–18 April window is the natural slot.
- Families with Std 9–11 students: school annual exams run 5–20 April 2027 and the summer vacation starts on 3 May (Gujarat board academic calendar 2026–27), so book for May but do it in January or February, when hill-station hotels and flights are still reasonable.
- Jain families: Mahavir Jayanti on Sunday 18 April; many prefer to leave on 19 or 20 April. Jain meals in Kashmir, Himachal and Sikkim are possible with notice and confirmed in writing.
Using the 14–18 April long weekend
With one leave day, Wednesday to Sunday gives five days. That is enough for Shimla and Kufri, Srinagar with Gulmarg, Gangtok with a Darjeeling night, Andaman's Port Blair and Havelock, or Vietnam's Hanoi and Ha Long Bay. Flights on Tuesday evening 13 April and Sunday 18 April are the first to fill, so fix dates early.
Every trip we plan is private and customised: your own dates, your own car and driver, and the pace set by the oldest and youngest in the family. Extended families travel together as a private group on their own dates.
Why plan your April trip with Vibrant Holidays
- An honest open-or-closed check: we tell you upfront if Rohtang, Zojila, Nathula or a temple will not be open on your dates, instead of finding out on the road.
- Heat-aware itineraries: early starts, short drives, and sightseeing moved to mornings and evenings.
- Visas and permits: Vietnam, Schengen, Japan and other applications prepared and submitted; approval rests with the authority. Sikkim, Lakshadweep and park permits added to your plan.
- Pure-veg and Jain meals arranged on request and confirmed in writing, with a straight answer where choice is thin.
- 11 years on C G Road, Ahmedabad: plan at our office Monday to Saturday or on WhatsApp, with 24×7 on-trip support. IATA-accredited; member of TAAI, TAFI, ADTOI and IATO; recognised by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.
Planning earlier in spring? Read best places to visit in March, or browse snow holidays and all tour packages from Ahmedabad.
Plan your trip with Vibrant Holidays
Tell us your dates, budget and who is travelling. We reply with a day-wise plan and a clear price, usually the same day.
Get a Free Quote WhatsApp 9089090790Best Places to Visit in April: FAQs
Which is the best place to visit in April in India?
Kashmir, Shimla and Manali, Sikkim and Darjeeling, Ooty, Coorg and Munnar are the most reliable choices, because April is mild in the hills while the plains turn hot. For a beach, the Andaman Islands are the best option. Ladakh by road, Spiti and the Char Dham temples are not yet open in April.
Which country is best to visit in April from India?
Vietnam is excellent in the north and centre, Bali enters its dry season, Bhutan has rhododendrons on the passes, and Turkey and the Netherlands are in full spring. Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are mild and good value. Thailand works if you enjoy Songkran or stay on the islands, but it is the hottest month there.
Is the Kashmir tulip garden open in April?
Usually only in the first half of the month. In 2026 the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden opened on 16 March and closed to visitors on 16 April. The 2027 season depends on the bloom and is announced in March, so plan for early April and treat the tulips as a bonus.
When is Ram Navami in 2027?
Ram Navami falls on Thursday 15 April 2027, the ninth day of Chaitra Navratri, which begins on Wednesday 7 April. Ambedkar Jayanti on 14 April and Mahavir Jayanti on Sunday 18 April sit on either side, so one day of leave on Friday 16 April creates a five-day break.
Can we see snow in April in India?
Yes, at height. Sissu beyond the Atal Tunnel and the top of the Solang ropeway near Manali, the upper Gulmarg Gondola in Kashmir and Tsomgo Lake in Sikkim usually still have snow in April. Hill towns themselves are usually snow-free. Fresh snowfall can close Nathula or the Atal Tunnel road for a day.
Is Ladakh open in April?
Leh can be reached by flight all year, but April is still very cold at night and the road routes are usually closed. The Manali to Leh highway normally opens in May or June, and the Srinagar to Leh road over Zojila reopens between late March and May depending on snow. May end to September is the better window.
Is April a good time to visit Thailand?
It is the hottest month, at 34 to 37 degrees in Bangkok, but also the month of Songkran, the water festival from 13 to 15 April. Beach resorts in Phuket and Krabi are comfortable with an early start. As of October 2026, Indians can enter Thailand visa-free for up to 30 days.
Do Char Dham temples open in April 2027?
No. Gangotri and Yamunotri traditionally open on Akshaya Tritiya, which falls around 8 to 9 May in 2027, and Kedarnath and Badrinath open around the same time on dates announced by the temple committees. Plan the Char Dham Yatra from May onwards.
Where can Gujarati families go in April with small children?
Shimla, Kashmir, Ooty and Munnar give cool weather with short drives, and the Andaman Islands offer calm beaches. Closer to home, Mount Abu and Saputara work for a weekend by road. Families with Std 9 to 11 students usually wait for the summer vacation, which begins on 3 May 2027.
Is April too hot for Goa and Kerala?
The coasts are hot and humid, around 33 to 35 degrees. Goa is fine for a resort-and-pool break with beach time early in the morning. In Kerala, spend most nights in Munnar and Thekkady, which stay between 15 and 27 degrees, and keep the backwater stay to a single air-conditioned houseboat night.
How early should we book an April holiday?
For the 14 to 18 April long weekend, book flights and hill-station hotels eight to ten weeks ahead. For the rest of April, four to six weeks is usually enough in India. Schengen and Japan visas need six to eight weeks, and the Andaman ferries and Gir safari permits sell out early.
