Christmas is one of the fun-filled times of the year and during this festive time people love to explore various places to celebrate and enjoy. Christmas in India is mostly celebrated in the metros, southern and north-eastern India where the density of Christians residing is much larger. But one can find non-christians as well joining in to exchange gifts, sing carols and every bit of the merriment.
1. Goa
Goa is Known for its excellent beaches and legendary nightlife, perhaps Goa is the best place to celebrate Christmas in India. With its Portuguese legacy and Catholic population Christmas here is celebrated with a gripping fervor. The churches and homes are decorated with beautiful lights and poinsettia flowers while children sing Christmas carol late into the night. People of all ages line up at the churches to take part in midnight mass. The Christmas in Goa is very famous which also attracts thousands of tourists from different part of the country and abroad to its shore who come to witness this festival in all its colors.
2. Pondicherry
Pondicherry is well known for its perfect blend of French tradition and the beauty of the grand festival of Christmas. Pondicherry is an ecstasy during this festival. Clean, calm and quite beaches of Pondicherry are just perfect for spending the day time of Christmas and the fantastically built churches and scenic glances of French culture makes this place perfect for Christmas celebration in India. It is one of the best places in India to celebrate Christmas. With so much to explore, on shouldn’t miss out on a trip to Pondicherry on Christmas. From crunchy cookies, gift exchanges, Christmas trees, and a horde of activities for travelers during this time, there’s no doubt as to how Pondicherry landed in the list of the best places to celebrate Christmas in India.
3. Kolkata
Kolkata is fondly called as ‘The City of Joy’ and this city joyfully welcomes Christmas celebrations. Park Street area of Kolkata dazzles with lights and stars and with lot of other decorations. There are various streets which are lined up with pubs and bars that remain open all night long during the festive days! You can have best sweet Christmas delights at Flury’s. Tourists planning Kolkata tour at the time of Christmas can also hear sweet sound of carols at famous churches of Kolkata; the St Paul’s Cathedral of Kolkata also organizes a midnight mass. Moreover, the Anglo-Indian communities celebrate this festival in traditional style and parties and get-together are also organized to celebrate this festival. It is one of the amazing places of India to celebrate Christmas and have the best experience of this festival. Even though there aren’t many Christians in the city leaving out the Anglo-Indian community, Kolkata is a place in India where Christmas celebration is like its own festival. The churches are decorated, the streets are lit up and people of all ages go out for shopping. For many though Christmas means the delicious cakes and the bakeries in town are usually overflowing with customers during Christmas.
4. Bangalore
Bangalore has a rich cultural past and an alluring Christian legacy. It has numerous beautiful churches, especially in the central part of the town. Many of them, built by Europeans, have British or French influences and their own unique traditions for Christmas celebration in India. The prominent ones are St Patrick’s Church on Brigade Road and The All Saints Church on Hosur. Come December and the town is decked up in festivities. Famous for it culinary delights, the city is spoilt of choices. One can head to Koshy’s for their plum cake, smileys and ginger tea, Thomsons Bakery, an old timer’s favourite, Caperberry for a delectable four-course turkey dinner just stroll along the famous eateries of MG road. Christmas celebration in Bangalore is a charming experience and is sure to leave you in the most joyous of moods.
5. Kerala
Imagine celebrating Christmas in the backwaters of Kerala….isn’t amazing? You will surely like to celebrate Christmas as the celebration of this festival in Kerala is truly amazing. There are several churches in Kerala which gets beautifully decorated with lights and stars and turns into a gorgeous visual treat. Moreover, there are heavy discounts on hotels for welcoming tourists so that they can enjoy the festivity more. It is one of the best places in India where you can celebrate Christmas with pomp. The churches whether big or small remain open throughout the night and thousands of people gather at churches across the state to sing midnight mass. Besides being part of the festivities one can do so much from visiting the backwaters of Kerala to its lovely beaches, from shopping for spices to exploring the Western Ghats. It’s truly the best time to visit Kerala.