Snow Places in India in December: Where You Will Really Find Snow
A frank, place-by-place verdict on December snow – how likely it is, which roads and permits decide whether you reach it, how cold it gets, and who it suits.
Every November our phones fill with the same question: "Where will we definitely see snow in December?" The honest answer is that nobody can promise snow on a date, but some places are far safer bets than others. Altitude matters more than name recognition. A hill station at 2,000 m such as Shimla or Mussoorie may see no snow at all until January, while a meadow at 2,650 m in Gulmarg or a valley at 3,100 m beyond the Atal Tunnel is usually white by the second half of December. In the north-east, height does the same job: Zero Point in North Sikkim and Sela Pass on the Tawang road sit above 4,000 m and hold snow through most of the winter.
This guide ranks India's December snow destinations by likelihood – high, medium or low – based on altitude, the usual timing of the first heavy falls and what we have seen across past seasons. For each place you get typical temperatures, the road or permit that decides whether you actually reach the snow, a cost band, and who it suits: honeymooners, families with small children, senior citizens or trekkers. If you want the wider picture of beaches, deserts and festivals in December, read our December travel guide; this page is only about snow.
Updated October 2026 by the Vibrant Holidays team, Ahmedabad.
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December snow likelihood: the quick verdict table
"Likelihood" below means the chance that you will stand in snow, not that it will snow while you are there. High means snow on the ground in most past seasons by mid-December; medium means it often arrives around Christmas or only at a nearby higher point; low means you should not plan around it.
| Place | Altitude (approx.) | Snow by early Dec | Snow by late Dec | January | Main obstacle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gulmarg (Kashmir) | 2,650 m; Apharwat 3,950 m | Medium | High | Very high | Gondola Phase 2 shuts in high wind |
| Sonamarg (Kashmir) | 2,740 m | Medium-high | High | Very high | Road beyond Gagangir can close after heavy falls |
| Pahalgam (Kashmir) | 2,200 m | Low | Medium | High | Valley floor melts quickly; Aru and Betaab higher up hold snow |
| Sissu and Lahaul via Atal Tunnel | 3,100 m | Medium-high | High | Very high | Tunnel and approach closed for clearing after storms |
| Solang Valley (Manali) | 2,500 m | Low-medium | Medium | High | Traffic and taxi restrictions after snowfall |
| Manali town | 2,050 m | Low | Low-medium | Medium | Snow in town is irregular |
| Auli (Uttarakhand) | 2,800 m | Low | Medium | High | Long drive; ropeway status changes |
| Kedarkantha trek | Summit 3,800 m | Medium | High on upper trail | High | Requires trek fitness |
| Kufri and Narkanda (Shimla) | 2,500–2,700 m | Low | Low-medium | Medium-high | Snow comes late; often patchy |
| Zero Point / Yumthang (North Sikkim) | 3,600–4,700 m | High at Zero Point | High | High | North Sikkim permit; road shuts on heavy-snow days |
| Tsomgo Lake and Nathu La (East Sikkim) | 3,750–4,300 m | Medium | High | High | Protected-area permit; closures after snowfall |
| Sela Pass and Tawang (Arunachal) | Sela 4,170 m; Tawang 3,050 m | Medium-high at Sela | High at Sela | High | Inner Line Permit; very long drive from Guwahati |
The pattern is clear. If snow is the non-negotiable reason for the trip, choose a destination marked high for your dates, travel in the second half of December, and keep one spare day. If snow is a bonus rather than the goal, Manali, Pahalgam or Shimla work well and give you more hotel choice.
Kashmir: Gulmarg, Sonamarg and Pahalgam in December
Gulmarg – likelihood high from mid-December
Gulmarg is the safest snow choice in India for most families. The meadow usually turns white by the third week of December, and even before that the Gondola lifts you to Kongdori (Phase 1, about 3,100 m), where snow has often settled. Phase 2 to Apharwat, close to 4,000 m, runs only on calm days, so do not build your whole trip around it. Day temperatures hover around 0–5°C and nights drop well below freezing.
- Getting there: about 2 hours by road from Srinagar airport. After heavy snow, the last stretch from Tangmarg may need chains or a 4x4; local rules sometimes require you to switch to a local taxi.
- Good for: honeymooners, families wanting a first proper snow day, beginner skiers.
- Seniors: fine with a centrally heated hotel and short walks; avoid the sledge rides that drag you uphill on icy tracks.
Sonamarg – likelihood high, but access can break
Sonamarg sits higher than Gulmarg and gathers snow early, though the Srinagar–Sonamarg road can close for a day or two after a big storm. The Z-Morh tunnel near Gagangir has made winter access more dependable than it used to be. Most visitors do Sonamarg as a day trip from Srinagar (about 2½ hours each way) for sledging and photographs at Thajiwas Glacier's lower slopes.
Pahalgam – likelihood medium
Pahalgam town at 2,200 m may be brown in early December. Snow is more dependable at Aru Valley and Betaab Valley above it, reached by local union taxis. In late December and January Pahalgam is often white end to end. Choose it for peaceful riverside stays rather than guaranteed snow.
Kashmir cost band, 5–6 nights, standard to deluxe hotels with a private car: about ₹19,000–35,000 per person excluding flights; add 30–50% for 24 December–2 January. See our Kashmir guide for Ahmedabad travellers and Kashmir packages.
Himachal: Sissu, Solang, Manali, Kufri and Narkanda
Rohtang Pass is shut – the Atal Tunnel is your way to snow
Rohtang Pass normally closes to tourist traffic from around mid-November until it is cleared in late spring, so the online Rohtang permit (issued by the Kullu district administration, about ₹500 per vehicle plus a congestion fee, with a daily vehicle cap and no visits on Tuesdays in season) is irrelevant for a December trip. What matters instead is the 9 km Atal Tunnel under the Rohtang ridge. It is open in winter except during snowfall and road clearing, and on the north side you reach Sissu and the Lahaul valley at about 3,100 m, which usually has more snow than anywhere around Manali. No permit is needed to drive through the tunnel to Sissu, but local police may stop tourist vehicles at Solang or the south portal after fresh snow, and only 4x4s may be allowed on icy stretches.
Solang Valley – likelihood medium in late December
Solang, 14 km from Manali, has the ski slope, ropeway and snow-scooter operators. It usually has thin snow by Christmas and good cover from January. Expect long queues of cars on 25 December and 31 December weekends.
Manali town – likelihood low to medium
Manali itself (about 2,050 m) gets snow on some Decembers and not on others. Families who book Manali for "snow in town" in early December are the most common disappointed callers we get. Base yourself in Manali for comfort and drive to Solang and Sissu for the white stuff.
Kufri and Narkanda – likelihood low in December
Kufri, half an hour from Shimla, and Narkanda, about 60 km further on the Hindustan–Tibet road, both see their first serious snowfall more often in January than December. Narkanda's Hatu Peak road holds snow longer. Choose them if you are driving from Delhi or Chandigarh and want a cheaper, shorter trip, and accept that the snow is a hope, not a plan.
Himachal cost band, 4–6 nights from Chandigarh or Delhi with a private car: about ₹12,000–26,000 per person; Volvo-bus or self-drive options cost less. Browse our Himachal packages.
Uttarakhand: Auli and the Kedarkantha winter trek
Auli – likelihood medium after Christmas
Auli at around 2,800 m has India's best-known government ski slope and wide views of Nanda Devi. The slope usually has usable snow from late December or January; early December is often dry with frosty grass. Getting there means a long day's drive from Rishikesh or Dehradun (about 250 km, 9–10 hours) via Joshimath, where land subsidence led to the ropeway being suspended in recent seasons – we check its status before quoting. Hotels are few and small, so the New Year week fills quickly.
- Good for: couples, first-time skiers on a short course, photographers.
- Seniors: the drive is long and winding; we break it with a night at Rudraprayag or Pipalkoti.
Kedarkantha – likelihood high on the upper trail
The Kedarkantha trek from Sankri in Uttarkashi district is the classic December snow trek: about 5–6 days, a summit near 3,800 m and campsites that are usually under snow by mid-December. It is moderate in difficulty, fine for fit teenagers and adults with some walking practice, and unsuitable for senior citizens or small children. Treks are run by licensed trekking operators; we can plan the Dehradun transfers and hotels around your chosen trek dates.
Uttarakhand snow cost band, 5–6 nights with a private car: about ₹16,000–30,000 per person for Auli; Kedarkantha trek fees are separate. See our Uttarakhand packages.
Sikkim and Arunachal: snow at altitude, with permits
North Sikkim – Lachung, Yumthang and Zero Point
Zero Point (Yumesamdong) at roughly 4,700 m is one of the most reliable snow spots in India in December, and Yumthang Valley below it is often white too. Lachung village at about 2,700 m is your night stop. Foreign nationals face extra rules, but Indian tourists need a North Sikkim permit that the registered tour operator applies for in Gangtok with your ID and photographs; you travel in a permitted local vehicle with a Sikkim driver, and private cars from outside the state are not allowed. The road was badly damaged in the October 2023 Teesta flood and has had closures since; Lachung and Yumthang reopened for tourists in September 2025 with fixed return-time cut-offs at checkposts, and Lachen and Gurudongmar reopened in March 2026. Permits are suspended on heavy-snow or landslide days, so keep one buffer day in Gangtok.
East Sikkim – Tsomgo Lake and Nathu La
Tsomgo (Changu) Lake at about 3,750 m, 40 km from Gangtok, is usually partly frozen and edged with snow by late December. Nathu La on the China border is higher and colder but is open to Indian nationals only, on selected days of the week, with a separate permit booked through registered operators a day or more ahead. Both close after fresh snowfall until the Army and BRO clear the road.
Tawang and Sela Pass – likelihood high at Sela
Sela Pass at about 4,170 m and its lake are normally snowbound in December, and the Sela Tunnel, opened in 2024, has made the road to Tawang more reliable in winter. Tawang town itself gets light snow on some days. Indian visitors need an Arunachal Inner Line Permit applied online before travel. The route from Guwahati takes two long driving days each way, so plan 7–8 nights.
Cost band: Sikkim with North Sikkim, 6 nights, about ₹18,000–32,000 per person excluding flights to Bagdogra; Tawang circuit, 7–8 nights, about ₹28,000–48,000. See our north-east India packages.
December snow temperatures and what to wear
| Place | Typical December day | Typical December night | Clothing level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Srinagar | 6–10°C | −3 to 0°C | Heavy |
| Gulmarg | 0–5°C | −8 to −4°C | Very heavy |
| Manali | 8–12°C | −2 to 2°C | Heavy |
| Sissu | −2 to 4°C | −12 to −6°C | Very heavy |
| Auli | 3–8°C | −6 to −2°C | Very heavy |
| Shimla / Kufri | 8–13°C | 0–4°C | Medium-heavy |
| Lachung | 2–8°C | −6 to −2°C | Very heavy |
| Zero Point / Sela Pass | −8 to 0°C | Far below freezing | Extreme (short visits only) |
| Tawang | 5–10°C | −4 to 0°C | Heavy |
A packing list that works
- Three layers: thermal inner top and bottom, a fleece or woollen sweater, and a windproof padded or down jacket. Layers beat one thick coat because hotels and cars are warm.
- Feet: waterproof boots with a grip sole and two pairs of woollen socks. Sports shoes get soaked within minutes in snow. Gum boots can be hired in Gulmarg, Solang and Lachung, along with long coats, for ₹150–400 a day.
- Hands and head: waterproof gloves (woollen ones turn wet and icy), a cap covering the ears, and a muffler.
- Eyes and skin: UV sunglasses – snow glare is strong at altitude – sunscreen, lip balm and a heavy moisturiser.
- Health: cold and cough medicines, altitude-sickness advice from your doctor for Zero Point, Nathu La or Sela, and any regular medicines in a cabin bag.
- Gadgets: a power bank; phone batteries drain fast in the cold.
Which snow destination suits your group
- Families with children under 6: Gulmarg with a heated hotel, or Manali with day trips to Solang and Sissu. Avoid Zero Point, Nathu La and Sela – the altitude is too high for toddlers.
- Families with school-age children: Kashmir for the Gondola and sledging, or Manali–Sissu for a road-trip feel. Christmas break dates suit both.
- Senior citizens: Kashmir is the gentlest option, as Srinagar is at only 1,600 m and Gulmarg is a short drive away. Gangtok with Tsomgo Lake works if you skip North Sikkim. Avoid Auli and Tawang unless everyone is comfortable with long mountain drives.
- Honeymooners: Gulmarg and Pahalgam for snow-view rooms, or Sikkim for a quieter, less crowded snow trip.
- Friends and adventure seekers: Kedarkantha trek, Sissu and Lahaul, Tawang by road, or a ski course in Gulmarg or Auli.
- Short on time from Delhi or Chandigarh: Kufri–Narkanda or Manali–Solang by road; accept that snow is not certain.
For senior travellers we choose hotels with lifts and room heating, keep one big outing per day, and plan the highest point as a short visit, not a night stay. Every trip we plan is private and customised: your own car and driver, your own dates, and extended families travelling together as a private group.
Planning tips for a December snow trip
- Pick the second half of the month. Most heavy falls in the western Himalaya arrive with western disturbances from mid-December. If snow is essential and your dates are flexible, early January is even better.
- Watch the forecast, not old photos. We track IMD warnings and local road updates in the week before travel and adjust day order – for example, moving Sonamarg to a clearer day.
- Keep a buffer day. Flights into Srinagar get cancelled in fog or snow, and Sikkim's high roads close without notice. Do not book a tight onward connection on the last day.
- Book permits early. North Sikkim and Nathu La permits need ID copies and photographs; the Arunachal Inner Line Permit is online. We collect documents with your booking.
- Do not drive yourself on snow. Local drivers know when to fit chains and when to turn back. Every package of ours includes a private car with an experienced hill driver.
- Expect activity prices on the spot. Sledging, snow-scooter rides, ski hire and pony rides are priced by local unions; we give you the current rate card before you go.
Live snow trip packages are listed on our snow holiday packages page, and we also plan honeymoon packages and family packages to all the places above.
Why plan your snow holiday with Vibrant Holidays
- Straight answers on snow odds: we tell you when a place is unlikely to have snow on your dates, even if it costs us the booking.
- Permits handled with the itinerary: North Sikkim, Nathu La, Tsomgo and Arunachal permits are part of the plan, and we tell you which ones depend on the weather on the day.
- Private car with a hill driver: no shared vehicles, no fixed coach timetable; your own dates and pace.
- Pure-veg and Jain meals arranged on request and confirmed in writing; we tell you honestly that options thin out in Lachung and Tawang.
- Ahmedabad office since 2015: C G Road, open Monday to Saturday, 24×7 support while you travel; IATA-accredited; member of TAAI, TAFI, ADTOI and IATO; recognised by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.
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 9089090790Snow Places in India in December: FAQs
Which place in India is sure to have snow in December?
No place can be guaranteed, but Zero Point in North Sikkim, Sela Pass on the Tawang road and the Kongdori level of the Gulmarg Gondola have snow in most Decembers because of their altitude. Gulmarg meadow, Sonamarg and Sissu beyond the Atal Tunnel are usually white from mid-December. Lower hill stations like Shimla and Manali town are not reliable.
Will there be snow in Manali in December?
Sometimes, but not every year. Manali town often has no snow until late December or January. Solang Valley usually has some snow around Christmas, and Sissu, through the Atal Tunnel, is the most dependable nearby spot. If snow is the main goal, travel after 15 December and keep a flexible day for the drive to Sissu.
Is Rohtang Pass open in December?
No. Rohtang Pass normally closes to tourist vehicles from around mid-November until it is cleared in spring, so the Rohtang permit does not apply in December. Instead, drive through the Atal Tunnel to Sissu and the Lahaul valley, which are open in winter except during snowfall and clearing. Police may restrict non-4x4 vehicles after fresh snow.
Is Gulmarg or Manali better for snow in December?
Gulmarg is better for reliable snow. It sits higher, the Gondola takes you above 3,000 m, and the meadow is usually covered from the third week of December. Manali is cheaper and easier to reach by road from Delhi and Chandigarh, but you will usually need to drive to Solang or Sissu to find good snow in December.
Does Auli have snow in December?
Auli usually gets usable snow from late December, and January to February is its most dependable season. Early December is often dry and frosty. The drive from Rishikesh or Dehradun is long, around 9–10 hours, and the Joshimath ropeway has been suspended in recent seasons, so check its status. Hotels are few, so book early for New Year week.
Do I need a permit to see snow in Sikkim?
Yes, for the high snow spots. Indian tourists need permits for North Sikkim, which covers Lachung, Yumthang and Zero Point, and for Tsomgo Lake and Nathu La in East Sikkim. Registered operators apply in Gangtok with your ID and photographs. Nathu La is open only to Indian nationals on selected days. Permits are suspended on heavy-snow days.
Is a December snow trip safe for senior citizens?
Yes, if you choose carefully. Kashmir suits seniors best because Srinagar is only at 1,600 m and Gulmarg is a short drive. Use heated hotels, warm layers and a private car, and treat very high points such as Zero Point, Nathu La and Sela Pass as short visits only. Consult a doctor about altitude if anyone has heart or breathing problems.
How much does a December snow trip cost per person?
Roughly ₹12,000–26,000 per person for 4–6 nights in Himachal, ₹19,000–35,000 for 5–6 nights in Kashmir, ₹18,000–32,000 for Sikkim and ₹28,000–48,000 for a Tawang circuit, on twin sharing with a private car and excluding flights. Prices rise by 30–50% between about 24 December and 2 January.
Can I see snow near Delhi in December?
The nearest realistic options are Kufri and Narkanda beyond Shimla, Solang and Sissu beyond Manali, and Dhanaulti or Chakrata in Uttarakhand. In December, snow is uncertain at all of these lower points except Sissu. For a weekend from Delhi with a better chance, January is the safer month.
Is the Kedarkantha trek good in December?
Yes. December is one of the best months for Kedarkantha, with snow usually covering the upper campsites and the summit near 3,800 m. The trek takes about 5–6 days from Sankri and is rated moderate. It suits fit teenagers and adults, not small children or senior citizens. Go with a licensed operator and carry proper winter gear.
What should I wear for snow in December?
Wear thermal innerwear, a fleece or woollen middle layer and a windproof padded jacket, with waterproof boots, two pairs of woollen socks, waterproof gloves and a cap that covers the ears. Add UV sunglasses, sunscreen and lip balm. Long coats and gum boots can be hired cheaply in Gulmarg, Solang and Lachung if you do not want to buy them.
