Celebrating Christmas in India has seen a steep spulrge in recent years. Different parts of India see different style of Christmas celebration influenced by the local cultural, religious and spiritual values. Nonetheless, the whole purpose and message behind the celebration of Christmas remains the same throughout India. It’s service to the Humanity in the name of the God, in this case Jesus Christ; pompous celebrations in society and the message of brotherhood above all religions in different customs. Here is the list of best places to celebrate Christmas in India this year.
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Christmas in Goa
Goa, a name famous for new year party, beaches, sun, sand, backwaters, cottages and lot more. However, many a times travellers from different countries and continents like US, Europe do not realize that Goa also holds a grand Christmas celebration in its churches like Basilica of Bom Jesus, Three kings Church etc. every year. Though these celebrations are influenced a little by the local culture and the customs but still it surely worths a visit there.
For example: Vehicle entry around Basilica of Bom Jesus, one of the most famous, biggest and oldest Churches in India is restricted almost a kilometer before. Roads leading to the Church is cleaned and Decorated with colorful flowers and ornamental lights everywhere. Big pandals are set all around and in the midnight, people sing Christmas carols and greet each other. I saw more foreginers than Indians that night. The main reason of this grand Christmas celebration in Goa is, most of the population of Goa is Christian by religion and that’s why Goa witnesses a grand Christmas celebration.
Christmas in Puducherry:
A decorated church on Christmas, Pondicherry
If in Goa, Christmas is celebrated in pompous fashion, in Puducherry, Christmas is celebrated in very peaceful manner. Puducherry had been a French colony for a long time and one can still see the French cultural influence in Puducherry. For example, colony names, the street names, street naming conventions, traffic police dress etc. The same way Christmas in Puducherry us greatly influnced by the French culture. However, one can also see a great Tamil influence on the Christmas celebration pattern in Puducherry because Tamilnadu is a neighbouring state of Puducherry in India.
Once I had also spent my Christmas eve in Puducherry. A small local market is set up along the Gandhi beach; Churches (here, Immaculate Conception Cathderal Church) is decorated with lights. Apart from the lightings and decoration, whole of this church is whitewashed completely. Small holy places are set all around the Church premises showing the life of Jesus and Nativity of Jesus. One can also see a lot of beautiful paintings and statues all around showing the birth to death of jesus. More about Christmas celebration in Pondicherry can be found here.
Christmas in Chennai:
Santhome Church, Chennai
If Christmas in Pondicherry is more about Church decoration then Christmas in Chennai is more about house decoration and Chruch mass.I have spent around two years in Chennai and have seen two christmas. Its more about personal than public in Christmas. Of course, churches are decorated everything happens as it happens in Puducherry but on top of that people decorate their houses on Christmas.
Sweet little lights of different colours hanging outside the houses, streets decorated and cleaned are something you cannot miss on christmas in Chennai. Even they play Christmas carols through the night. The best way to enjoy and feel Christmas in chennai would be to travel around the city on Christmas eve.
Christmas in Mumbai:
Christmas in Mumbai is different in many aspects that rest of India. It sees people gathering, exchange of greeting cards, huge charistmas wallpapers, exchange of christmas gifts, partying and even burning candles and celebrating the Christmas like Diwali, the festival of lights, in India.
Western Bandra in Mumbai will be the place I would like to recommend the people wanting to visit Mumbai on Christmas. Apart from decorations, greetings and cards, one can also enjoy a lot of different types of cakes and christmas trees decorated with twinkling lights in front almost every house in a row.
Christmas in Kolkata
Kolkata because of the many reasons is unique in Christmas celebration just like Shillong, a hill station in North East India. There are various reasons behind this. Some of the reasons for grand celebration of Christmas in Kolkata is:
- Artistic sense of Bengali people make the decorations influenced by Hindu culture. For example, apart from churches, tents are also decorated in the premises in a very artistic ways.
- Delicious food of Bengali people: Bengalis are famous for making delicious sweets. If in Mumbai, you taste various kinds of cakes, in Kolkata be ready to taste a variety of sweets made from milk products and that too with a heavy discount
- Bengalis love to talk: Bengalis just love to roam around and talk and you can see that fervor around on christmas.
- Music like rock show and live concerts by youngsters is another big thing to expect on park street in Kolkata.
Christmas in Mussoorie/ any hill station:
If all the cities in India have got a unique reason to celebrate Christmas then Mussoorie has also got a very unique reason to celebrate Christmas. I will say, its the climate and the culture. In December, Mussoorie will be laden with snow so any Christmas decoration light that you see falling on the snow at night is aesthetically more beautiful than lights in cities in plain parts of India.
Another thing to must see christmas in Mussoorie is that Mussoorie has always been summer capital of British.
And still the houses of Mussoori give you a feel of old England. Tin roof, narrow climbing streets, wooden huts, dogs and all. It adds another aura to the Christmas. Last but the most important reason is Mussoorie or any other hill station of India like Shimla, darjeeling etc. are famous for famous English school based on old English traditions and that’s why you can see a different flavour of Christmas in Mussoorie or on any hill station of India.
Christmas in North East India:
If we look at the regions of India with significant amount of Christians then North East leads the way. Though smaller in size but percentage of Christians in North East India is as high as above fifty percent. Take any state Meghalaya to Mizoram, all the states of significant amount of Christians in there.
The best part about the North East India during Christmas is beauty of North East India and the way, Christmas in celebrated. Celebration of christmas is highly influenced by the local culture and you should not be surprised to see local folk songs played on western music guitar and drums on Christmas in local attire. The complete mix up of Indigienous culture and western culture is a total thrilling experience.
Best Places for New Year Celebration
Merry Mumbai: Party hard in Bollywood city on new year eve
Mumbai is the most happening place after Goa on the new year eve. You can visit the unlimited number of clubs/bars/ pubs with a different theme on the new year with loud party music and DJs from around the world.
NewDelhi (Dil-li): Delhi never sleeps on the New year
They call it to bash and fiesta. Connaught place is decorated like Diwali. Go Delhi and be ready to witness a lot of surprises, you can not even imagine. Get laden with Bollywood/ Punjabi music and street driving.
Bangalore comes with beer on the New Year
Bangalore never sleeps on new years eve, ever. I think Bangalore has always been the party town.
Go Goa: Beaches, Babes & bungalows
Goa hits the new year fever from the Christmas. Come Christmas and the beautiful state start seeing the pouring in of the gallons of tourists including foreigners. Goa offers a lot of fun like new year eve part; new year day beach fun; whole night parties; fire dancing; fireworks; LED dance and a lot to drink too.
Chennai:
Chennai has a lot of enthusiasm for the new year. Parties, long drives along the east coast road to the Pondicherry, a lot of places to see around like Mahabalipuram and a number of city beaches to explore. Along with a lot of classical and cultural show including theater, music, and a lot.
Pondicherry:
Celebrate new year the French way. Like Goa, Pondicherry is also filled up with the foreigners on new year staring from the Christmas in Pondicherry itself. Beach party; sunrise; wooden cottages; beach islands; boating and there are a lot of french cuisines to enjoy on the new year. The list falls short when it comes to what to do on new year in Pondicherry.
Andaman Nicobar Islands:
Nothing could be as serene as enjoying the new year on a ferry sailing on the turquoise sea. Book a special package or plan your stay in the cottages/ tented cottages. Go for scuba diving; have a long turtle walk barefoot on the serene sea shore and relish your new year under the warm sun lying beside the beach.
Go Gokarna
Gokarna, Many of us have not heard of this beautiful sleepy town but believe me, this is another version of Goa with more peace and more lonely beaches. Hippies get filled in on this town of beautiful beaches since December. There are five beaches in a row. Each more beautiful than the previous one. But be aware, the police department here might not be as cheerful as Goa on new year.
Mussoorie: To the queen of hills
You need not do a lot when it comes to celebrating the new year in Mussoorie or in Dehradun. What could the best way to welcome new year standing at thousands of feet under the cold wind sipping through your jackets and looking at the sleepy town of Dehradun?
Walking through the old streets of Mussoorie and getting the feel of Old England. Eating cakes, pie, home made chocolates and taking a brisk walk to the highest point of Mussoorie to get a glimpse of Garhwal veillages.
Manali:
If you want to celebrate the new year with family on the winter vacation, Manali/ any other hill stations could also be one of the ideal places. Playing with snow balls, sipping hot coffee, wearing woolen overcoats and walking in the deep snow; skiing; frozen lakes and Magnificent Himalayan wilderness would surely make your new year as magnificent as the place would be.
Desert camping in Jaisalmer:
Go for a desert camping in Jaisalmer. The sunset over the dunes; cold nights and warm days; camel hump ride and now they also offer desert driving; the golden moon shining over silvery sand while you are sitting by the campfire. This celebration should be a mix of romance; offbeat adventure and surely a remembrance for the years to come.
Shout from above the clouds/ Go for a trek:
Start hiking on 31st december; reach the top and shout from above the clouds in the cold at 7000 feet in Western Ghats. Make you favorite light dish; watch the most beautiful sunrise from the thousands of feet above the clouds and celebrate the new year on crackling of burning woods of campfire.
Kerala: God’s own country
If you are planning a long vacation, not only the one-night new year celebration, go Kerala. Backwaters, Chinese fishing nets, boat house, paddy fields, fishes and a lot of things, the Kerala has to offer. Kerala tourism website
My McleodGanj:
McleodGanj comes closer to Gokarna in terms of destinations less known. McleodGanj has more than you think to offer on the new year of 2018. A lot of rave parties and the great fill of hill station with an awesome ride from Delhi to Dharamshala. Nothing can beat this experience.
The new year in Sikkim:
In the winters, in Sikkim you can easily reach tens of thousands of feet. The new year celebration in Sikkim is still influenced by the North-Eastern culture. So, if you want to open up the year 2018 with new notes with new experience start with tasty momos 😉 of Sikkim. Do not forget to go to Changu lake and possibly to Nathula pass from Gangtok.
New Party in Pune
Pune is far ahead of partying that we think. There are a few advantages of celebrating new year party in 2018 in Pune. There are so many locations around Pune like near Lonavala and Khandala that you shall have the choice to celebrate either in Pune or drive for 1-2 hours with your friends and celebrate in cottages or guest houses, the choice is yours always. No other city in India offers such nearby party option.
No other city in India offers such nearby party option. Though there are such options available around Delhi or Mumbai they are also very crowded and you do not get the Pune wala feel.
Camping in Kasol: Wanna be a Hippie?
Kasol has always been famous for what others cities could not make up to. Parvati valley gets crowded with the new year party enthusiasts on the new year eve. The party is scattered in different camps. Many groups rent out private wooden cottages and houses, especially for the new year eve.
Here are some other ideas to celebrate new year eve in offbeat ways:
- If you want to celebrate the new year eve in a peaceful way, go for a romantic stay and spend the evening romantically far away from the cities.
Also Read: Romantic road trips from Pune, Romantic Road Trips to Forts around Pune, Romantic road trips from Bangalore, and romantic lover’s stay around Bangalore
- Go for a long romantic drive on your bike or in your car.
- Pitch your tent on the top of a hill and welcome the new year with a sunrise
- If you love partying, then many clubs and hotels offer different theme based new year eve celebration. Be careful about the crowd.
The New Year Packages for Resorts near Delhi are carved thoughtfully to give you a chance of celebrating New Year happily with your loved ones.
I have read your blog.
Thank you so much for sharing this informative blog with us. Also, you can check out our website for resorts & hotels to celebrate the New Year 2020 near Delhi.
That is beautiful. But there is something that happens through ten days down south in Cochin. Ever heard of the famous Cochin Carnival? Check here for more: http://gomowgli.in/blog/cochin-carnival-celebrate-new-year-in-cochin-kochi/
That’s an interesting list 🙂
Woow.. Loved the details of all the places and got reminded of Park Street. It’s illuminated with lightings and ppl flock the street whole night , crowds ,ringing of church bells does emphasize the holy birth. Its called ” Borodin” in Bengal since the day starts getting longer than nights. Different types of christmas cakes are huge attraction in that time, speciali ” flurys ” a renowned cake shop in park Street offers mouth watering delicacies and its overloaded with ppl. Food and music carnivals happen paralleli here and there. It’s a grand celebration there. I dint know abt other places but ur post was really informative and very nice. 🙂
Hey Anonymous,
Thanks for liking my post… Kolkata also reminds me of beautiful girls clad in maroon or red dress and looking too adorable… (Red referring to Santa calus here ;))
And Of course I love their chirping all the time and their sweets though I never got a chance to taste any sweet from any of my very close bengali friends(May be they like to eat their sweets a lot).
If you get a chance… try to celebrate christmas in a hill station and spend your winter days in wooden cottage… take a look outside the window and hold the hand of your beloved…and ……