With May upon us, the heat in India has become increasingly intense. In Telangana, Nizamabad has already reached 46°C, while Hyderabad has surpassed 42°C. Parts of Uttar Pradesh, including Banda, Fatehpur, and Auraiya, are also experiencing mid-40s temperatures. Odisha’s Jharsuguda has exceeded 44°C, and even Delhi hit 42.8°C in late April.
For those who haven’t finalized vacation plans and are considering a short international trip to escape the rising temperatures, there are still accessible options available. Short flights, straightforward entry requirements, and destinations with milder weather through May make it feasible to enjoy a break without complicated logistics.
Nepal stands out as one of the easiest choices for a quick getaway from India’s peak summer heat. Flights from Delhi and other major Indian cities to Kathmandu take less than two hours, and Indian travelers do not require a visa. Once in Nepal, visitors can explore mountain towns, embark on Himalayan hikes, and enjoy lakeside accommodations at reasonable prices. Although Kathmandu can become warm and dusty by May, higher-altitude areas like Pokhara, Nagarkot, and the lower Annapurna region remain much cooler, particularly in the early mornings and evenings, with temperatures ranging from the high teens to low 20s. Early to mid-May is also an ideal time to visit before the onset of heavier monsoon rains.
Many travelers use Pokhara as their base, where leisurely mornings by Phewa Lake, cloudy mountain weather, and café-hopping have become popular attractions alongside trekking. Start your day with breakfast at OR2K or coffee at Himalayan Java before setting out for short hikes, boat rides on the lake, or drives toward the Annapurna foothills. By afternoon, rain often sweeps over the hills, prompting visitors to seek refuge in bakeries and cafés around Lakeside while the Annapurna Range occasionally reveals itself through the clouds at sunrise. For cooler temperatures, consider heading to villages like Ghandruk, where stone houses, tea-house accommodations, rhododendron forests, and mountain trails keep temperatures comfortably below 25°C throughout much of May.
Near Kathmandu, Nagarkot is an excellent choice for a brief mountain retreat, featuring pine-covered hills, cloudy Himalayan viewpoints, and resort balconies perfect for relaxing on rainy afternoons. Accommodations such as Club Himalaya by ACE Hotels or Hotel Mystic Mountain offer sunrise-facing rooms and easy access to short hikes in the valley. For a quieter cultural experience than the bustling central Kathmandu, travelers should visit Bhaktapur, where brick lanes, temple squares, and Newari architecture create a slower-paced atmosphere. Here, you can also find TUSA, one of Nepal’s most exciting contemporary restaurants, celebrated for its seasonal tasting menus inspired by ingredients and culinary traditions from across the Himalayas.