Major Places to Visit in India in Summer

Places to Visit in Ooty, South India

Ooty Summer Festival, Tamil Nadu
Udhagamandalam, or Ootacamund, popularly known as Ooty, is famous for the Ooty Summer Festival, being celebrated this year during 4 May to 26 May 2013. Ooty is a trendy hill resort in Tamil Nadu, which is located at an altitude of 2,240 m (7,350 ft) on Nilgiri hills, 80 kms north of Coimbatore. It came under British occupation at the end of 18th century, who developed it as a popular hill station, and the summer head quarters of then Madras Government.The entire region is famous for its tea estates and its natural beauty. One of the biggest local attractions is the 22 hectare Government Botanical Gardens, which is the focal point of the summer festival, because of the immensely popular flower show as a part of the annual Summer Festival. One of the most attractive options to visit Ooty is to take the scenic toy train from Metupalaiyam. This historic railway line was constructed way back in 1899. The 46 kms train service from Metupalaiyam to Udhagamandalam passes through 16 tunnels via Coonoor in a picturesque region amidst tea plantations and dense forested hills.
Mount Abu Summer Festival, Rajasthan

Tourist Places of Mount Abu

Located in the Aravalli Range in district Sirohi of Rajasthan on Gujarat border, Mount Abu is the venue of the annual Mount Abu Summer Festival held every year on Vaishakh Purnima (25 May 2013). It is a great tourist attraction. Mount Abu is a small hill station located on a rocky plateau at an average elevation of 1,220 m (4,003 ft), though the highest local peak is Guru Shikhar at 1,722 m (5,650 ft) above sea level. In view of extreme heat and arid conditions in the surrounding areas of Rajasthan and Gujarat, it is nicknamed as an oasis in the desert. The biggest attractions of this festival are ballad singing and regional folk dancing. The local Nakki Lake is the venue of boat racing, besides roller skating competition on its banks. The festival kicks off with a ceremonial procession, while the evenings sparkle with a grand fireworks display on all three days.
 

Shimla Summer Festival, Himachal Pradesh
Located in the lap of high Himalayas in the north of the country, most of the places in Himachal Pradesh face extreme cold conditions most of the year. However, come June and the frosty region comes alive with exuberance during the first week through the International Shimla Summer Festival. Shimla, the state capital, is located at an elevation of 2,205 m (7,234 ft), though the highest point in Shimla is the Jakhoo Hill which is located at an elevation of 2454 meters (8051 ft). The festival reflects local traditions of folk dance and music, while it also offers a good chance to acquire local handicrafts. The festival also provides a chance to prominent singers from all over the country to offer their concerts and local cuisine and fashion is on display. This year the festival is scheduled for June 1 to 9 and the venue is on the Ridge.
One of the great means to approach Shimla from the scorching summer heat of the north Indian plains is to board the historic UNESCO World Heritage Kalka-Shimla toy train from Kalka, located just north of Chandigarh, which is well connected by train to New Delhi and other major towns the country. This train service, initiated by the British way back in 1903, offers one of the most picturesque train journeys in the country.The enchanting 96 kilometers (60 miles) train trip passes though 102 tunnels, 800 bridges, and an incredible 900 curves. The longest tunnel extends for more than a kilometer.  Incidentally, because of the steep incline, the train’s speed is greatly impeded, but this provides a breathtaking vista all along the way.

Source – http://www.indiatraveltours.com/places.htm