Snowfall in Delhi

I am from Tamil Nadu, and will soon be going to Delhi in North India and that too for the first time.
I have heard that the winters are very harsh in Delhi and it is extremely cold. I was wondering if there are any chances of snowfall in Delhi during the winter season?

I have never seen snowfall, so I would love to see it while in Delhi. If I find out the time when there are high chances of seeing snow in Delhi I can then adjust my traveling dates.

 

Hello, @Magam! Welcome to the forum!

The chances of snowfall in Delhi are quite low. Although temperatures in Delhi go as low as 2°C, sometimes even 0°C, during winter time, the city has yet to experience snow. Snow is formed when the water vapour in the air freezes before falling as water. Unfortunately, this doesn't happen in Delhi for two reasons: one, the city doesn't receive much rain during winter season and two, the city rarely experiences below zero temperatures.

On the other hand, frost can happen in the city and there was even a time that the locals mistakenly identified these frosts for snow. Frost is simply ice, formed as the water vapour freezes on the surface. Because it has a white, milky appearance, it is sometimes mistaken for snow. The last time frost happened in Delhi was when in 2006 and it can happen again because of the climate changes happening in the world now.

To truly see snowfall, as what has been stated, you need to venture into higher altitude areas near Delhi. Here are the five nearest places to Delhi that you can visit for seeing snowfall and snow:

Places with Snowfall Near Delhi (Under 350 Kilometres Away from Delhi)

1. Chakrata - This is about 327 kilometres away from Delhi. It can take you around 7 to 8 hours to cover this distance by driving. With public transport like buses or trains, it can take a bit longer at around 8 to 9 hours or even more. Chakrata is a town in the Dehradun district of Uttarakhand. It is emerging as one of the best destinations in the region during winter as it has smooth slopes for skiing in the Mundala region, about 36 kilometres away from Chakrata. This hill station is best visited during the winter months for snowfall, these are from December to February. There are only a few attractions within the town itself and it is not yet commercialised so tourist infrastructures are sparse. One of the prime attractions here is the Tiger Waterfalls, which can be reached through a five-minute trek from the city centre. For viewing snowfall though, Chakrata is a good choice because of its proximity to Delhi.

• Must visit places - Tiger Waterfalls, Mundala, Moila Danda and Kanasar.

• Related thread - Chakrata

2. Landour and Mussoorie - Mussoorie is about 292 kilometres away from Delhi and can take around 7 to 8 hours to reach by car. Landour, on the other hand, is about 7.5 kilometres away from Mussoorie. Both these towns/hill stations receive snowfall by the end of December until January. Thus, schedule your trips accordingly so you can experience fresh snowfall during your visit. Temperatures during these months reach as low as 0°C but day time temperatures are higher at about 10°C. The good thing about Mussoorie is that it has plenty of attractions that you can visit like temples, waterfalls and lakes. On the other hand, Landour is less commercialised and less crowded so it can be a good option for those who want to be away from the noise of the city life. You can just combine these two destinations together since they are located quite close to each other.

• Must visit places - Tapkeshwar Mahadev Temple, Jwalaji Temple, Kempty Waterfalls, Jharipani Waterfalls, Mussoorie Lake and many more.

• Related thread - Mussoorie

3. Kanatal - This is about 320 kilometres away from Delhi, located on the way to Chamba, in the state of Uttarakhand. It is also just a few kilometres away from Dhanaulti so you can combine a visit to this town with it. This is an offbeat winter destination and you'd find plenty of snow to admire here during the months of December and January. Although fairly remote, it has some luxury hotels and budget hotels as well. Attractions here are sparse though you can partake in activities like trekking and hiking. It's a great destination for those seeking some solitude and serenity. Some of the main attractions here are the Surkanda Devi Temple and the Kodia Jungle. So if you're looking for snow and something different to visit, consider Kanatal, one of the best underrated snow destinations near Delhi.

• Must visit places - Surkanda Devi Temple and Kodia Jungle.

• Related thread - Getaways Near Delhi

4. Nainital - This is about 296.8 kilometres away from Delhi. This is yet another hill station in Uttarakhand which has snowfall at the end of December to January. Snowfall here is negligible though and there might be times that there won't be snow. But it's not rare to see snowfall here though especially on the higher altitude areas. Nainital also has plenty of attractions to keep tourists busy like the Naina Peak, Tiffin Top and Eco Cave Gardens. The main attraction here is the Nainital Lake though, which offers boating rides for guests. For the wildlife lovers, there's the High Altitude Zoo where you can spot animals like leopards, tigers and Tibetan wolves. So aside from its snow-laden surroundings, Nainital is a great place to visit due to the many attractions and activities that you can do here.

• Must visit places - Naina Peak, Tiffin Top, Eco Cave Gardens, Nainital Lake, High Altitude Zoo and many more.

• Related thread - Nainital Places to Visit

5. Dhanaulti - This is about 317 kilometres away from Delhi. This is another underrated hill station near Delhi that experiences snow during the winter season. The best thing about Dhanaulti is that it is very remote and away from the hustle and bustle of city life. The best season to visit it is during winter, from December to January. During this time, the town is covered with white blankets of snow that you can play with. There's also an two adventure parks here where you can indulge in activities like nature trails and obstacle courses. There are only a few hotels in the vicinity though so that's one downside. However, for the ultimate adventure and wilderness experience, Dhanaulti won't disappoint you.

• Must visit places - Dhanaulti Adventure Parks.

• Related thread - Offbeat Destinations in India

There you go, I hope this helps you!

 

Yes, Delhi has an extreme weather and it is too hot during summer and extremely cold during the winter. However, cold as it may be during the winter, there is no snowfall in Delhi. It is just extremely foggy and cold. If you want to experience snowfall, you can go to one of the many hill stations nearby Delhi that has snowfall.