Spend your Christmas in India : 4 Cities to Visit

From the cheerful Christmas celebrations at Darjeeling to the French influenced celebrations in Puducherry, there are a number of ways to drench yourself in the Christmas spirit of India. Each region adds a unique cultural twist to the Christmas festivities making the occasion livelier. If you are planning to celebrate Christmas in India, visit these places for a unique experience:

1. Daman and Diu

Located near the coast of Gujarat, soak yourself in a rich colonial influence during the Christmas week celebrations in Daman and Diu. Being a former Portuguese colony, Christmas celebrations have a unique Portuguese flavour. A variety of cultural shows is organised throughout the Christmas week. You can enjoy the Portuguese Corrindinho dance forms. Do not miss the midnight mass at St. Paul’s Church and the church services at Church of Our Lady Rosary and Se Cathedral.

2. Shimla

You can hear the echoes of the past in every alley of this former summer capital of British India. With lower tourist footfall during the month of December, Christmas celebrations are usually peaceful. The Churches and houses are decorated with shimmering lights. Evenings are usually welcomed by the soft tunes of carols and hymns from distant Churches and rich aroma of traditional delicacies filling the atmosphere. You can even attend local bands play playing hymns from the Gospel.

3. Darjeeling

Christmas is celebrated with much gaiety in this former summer resort of British India. During the Christmas week this quaint city  comes alive with the Yuletide spirit. Celebrating Christmas in Darjeeling feels like taking a heritage walk down the memory lane. Strong British influences can be seen in the Christmas celebrations here. Do not miss the Christmas week celebrations (From December 20 to December 31st) at the Windamere Hotel, the only authentic Colonial hotel in Darjeeling. It still follows the tradition of inviting famous entertainers from  London's West End Stage District to enthral the guests. The Christmas celebrations at Windamere Hotel has a rich feel of the good old house party that will help you relive the old boarding house days during the colonial era. This is the only hotel that will offer you a glimpse of old style British Christmas celebration along with international entertainment.

4. Kolkata

When it comes to Christmas, Kolkata offers you a unique blend of modern outlook and tradition values. This former capital of British India embraces Christmas with open arms. The Park Street area comes alive with vivid Christmas celebrations. You cannot miss the live bands, cafes offering Christmas goodies and the sound of the carols rising from the St. Paul’s Cathedral. Visit the bow-barracks to watch the Anglo-Indian communities celebrating Christmas in a traditional way.