10 Best Places to Celebrate Diwali in India

Recognised as one of the holiest towns in India, Varanasi celebrates Diwali on the banks of the holy Ganges! There is a constant stream of firecrackers and fireworks set off to celebrate the festival of lights. The ghats illuminate with a gorgeous line of diyas and candles, there is the very special Ganga Aarti that takes place every evening, Hindu deities take up processions to celebrate Diwali and more. It is quite the big festival observed in Varanasi and should definitely in your list of places to visit for Diwali. In fact, it is recommended that you opt for a riverside hotel in Varanasi if you wish to watch the processions, the illuminating Ganges and Diwali in its prime celebrations!

To book a hotel of your choice for your safety and stay visit our hotels platform and earn InterMiles for it! You will have plenty of choice at Varanasi and across India. Choose from Luxury hotels, Homestays, BnBs, Budget stays and more.

Diwali is a festival that has been incorporated in the Sikh religion too. The Sikhs also ring in the festivities of Diwali with a grandiose by following all the beliefs and significant rituals. In fact, Amritsar, the abode of the Golden Temple, sees Diwali as a big celebration. It is believed that Diwali is the time when the sixth Sikh guru, Guru Hargobind Sahib, returned from prison in 1619. He was unjustly held in captive along with many political prisoners for his beliefs.

Further, it is also stated that the foundation stone of the revered Golden Temple was laid on Diwali, in 1577. Hence, the Sikhs also revel in the celebrations of Diwali by ringing in the festival of lights. The temple complex is often decked up with lights and lakes fringed with countless oil lamps and diyas, all lit by the devotees.

The Pink City of Jaipur turns into radiant shades of yellow during Diwali. Right from palaces to markets, all the places in Jaipur are decked up with sparkling lights to illuminate the spirit of Diwali. Buildings, palaces, forts, markets, houses and tourist attractions are decorated with brilliant lights to ring in the festive season. The dazzling lights make for quite a sight to sore eyes. Interestingly, many Diwali tours take place in the city that you could sign up for if you choose Jaipur as your place for Diwali celebrations. The city does know how to best celebrate the festival of lights, by illuminating every corner of the city.

The charms of Udaipur don't end with its palaces and lakes. Known to be one of the major tourist spots in the state of Rajasthan, Udaipur has been listed as one of the best places to visit for Diwali celebrations. With the skies illuminated by floating lamps in the air and fireworks, leaving quite a reflection on the Lake Pichola, Udaipur certainly counts as one of the perfect places to ring in the festival of lights. The city also observes a light festival called Udaipur Light Festival which commenced in 2012. The lit festival sees artists from around the country take to the stage to perform, food stalls lighting up the festival and fun activities with paper lanterns taking their course through the festival days. It is undoubtedly curated to add the fun factor to your Diwali celebrations.

Close to Udaipur is the small holy town of Nathdwara which idolises Lord Krishna. You should take this short detour while you're in Udaipur as some of exquisite Pichwai paintings of the Krishna temple tell tales and teachings of the Lord. The holy town also celebrates Diwali along with Annakuta festival which falls a day after Diwali. There are many pujas, including the Govardhan puja that is taken up to commemorate the victory of Lord Krishna over the God of Lightning, Indra.

Every region of India celebrates Diwali in a diverse fashion. While the North recognises it as the return of Lord Rama and Goddess Sita, the south region sees Lord Krishna's win over Narakasur as a call for Diwali celebrations. Similarly, Kolkata observes Diwali as a celebration of Goddess Kali and her victory over many demons and evil. There are massive pandals erected with Goddess Kali's idols and decorations that include red hibiscus flowers, sweets, specific food such as rice, fish and more. It is certainly a treat to walk through the streets of Kolkata where the festivities and its grandeur are upscale. Kali Puja, along with Durga Puja, is considered to be the biggest festivals observed in Bengal and Assam.

You might recognise Goa as the party capital of the country. But the coastal state celebrates Diwali with the same fervent energy it rings in Christmas! Diwali celebrations in Goa are focussed towards Lord Krishna's victory over the demon Narakasura. There are massive and scary effigies erected that are later burned a day before Diwali, on Narakasura Chaturdashi. Following this, the cities in Goa light up with Diwali celebrations which come with several popular activities, including gambling. Floating casinos go house full during Diwali in Goa. If you do plan to take your Diwali celebrations to Goa this year, then you best start booking in advance!

Diwali can get quite noisy due to the firecrackers and vibrant air of celebration that grips cities and towns. However, if you're not too fond of the cacophony and wish to celebrate Diwali by bringing in some rural pleasures and keeping it pollution free, Gujarat is the place for you! The small community-based tourism time of Dangs, which is about 270 kilometres from Vadodara, is experiencing some fame for providing the quaint vibe to Diwali celebrations. The village inhabits local tribal who welcome tourists with open arms. Further, they also teach the tourists about their cultures and how they use eco-friendly products from the forests and other natural resources to make Diwali a fabulous festival. From cooking organic meals to receiving art demonstrations, Diwali this year can be a good learning experience for you. You can take back some learnings from the trip and make your future Diwali celebrations as eco-friendly as possible.

As one of India's holy cities, Ayodhya, especially famous for its connection with Ramayana, is known to ring in the Diwali celebration with utmost grandiose. It has been noted that in 2018, Ayodhya secured a place for itself in the Guinness Book of World Records for lighting more than 300,000 earthen lamps along the banks of the sparkling Saryu River. The Diwali celebrations might be a little different in 2020 due to the pandemic but trust in Ayodhya to make it a pleasant stay for you. With an air of festive fervour, Ayodhya will transport you to a sacred space.

The state capital can never go wrong when it comes to Diwali celebrations. If you are looking to have a whale of a time shopping in the streets of Delhi to revamp your home decor or wardrobe, you would be thrilled to see some of the fancy works at the Diwali Bazaar. From exquisite handicrafts to their annual Dastkar Festival of Lights Diwali Mela, Delhi does add quite the radiance to Diwali celebrations in the city. There are various Diwali melas and carnivals held across the city that you can check out during your stay. Further, the luxurious accommodation options in Delhi make for a very fancy vacation. You probably should consider Delhi as one of the best places to celebrate Diwali as it does come with all the perks that you look for to ring in the festival of lights.

As a city that bustles with life even on regular days, festivals and celebrations come with a whole new flamboyance for Mumbai! Be it Diwali celebrations or Christmas, the city streets are always decked up to ring in the celebrations. Opting for an eco-friendly approach towards celebrating Diwali in the city, Mumbai does have some great places where you can visit. The city's vibe is so vibrant and wonderful that you will certainly have a great time here! Plus, you might even get to witness some beautiful monuments lit up to match with the festival of lights, Diwali! Book yourself a fabulous accommodation at InterContinental or Trident near Marine Drive and relish the beauty of Mumbai during Diwali celebrations.

Tip for when you plan to travel- Visit InterMiles to book your flights for yourself and your loved ones and earn miles. You can earn InterMiles when you book flights across multiple airlines not just in India but worldwide. These miles when accumulated can get you free flights or hotel stays, merchandise, fuel, gift vouchers and a lot more- hence more value!

For Flights, Hotel Booking, Shopping, and other lifestyle needs, download the InterMiles App on Google PlayStore and iTunes