Snow Near Delhi: 15 Nearest Snowfall Places by Drive Time

Reliability is a rough guide to finding snow in the best months, not a forecast. No place here has guaranteed snow in any given week.

1. Mussoorie and Landour

The Delhi–Dehradun Expressway, opened in April 2026, has cut the drive to Dehradun to about 2.5 hours, making Mussoorie the closest snow town to Delhi. Snow here is light and short-lived, a few days in a typical winter, and some winters see almost none. Landour and Lal Tibba, above the Mall, keep it longest. Tip: base yourself in Mussoorie and go to Dhanaulti the morning after a snowfall.

2. Dhanaulti

A forest stop at about 2,286 m, 25–30 km beyond Mussoorie on the road to Chamba. Higher and under thick deodar, it holds snow longer than Mussoorie: in one reported spell, Lal Tibba got about two inches and Dhanaulti six. The Mussoorie–Dhanaulti–Chamba road is often disrupted after heavy snow, with vehicles stuck near Suwakholi. Tip: if the forecast is good, stay in Dhanaulti itself.

3. Nainital, Naina Peak and Kilbury

Nainital town (1,938 m) gets light snow on only a few days a year, usually in January. Naina (China) Peak at 2,615 m and the Kilbury forest about 15 km out get more; both were snow-covered in January 2026. Nainital charges an entry fee for cars registered outside the district, last reported at ₹300, and the forest department charges ₹50 a person for Naina Peak. See Nainital in winter and the Delhi to Nainital road guide.

4. Chakrata and Deoban

A quiet army cantonment at 2,118 m beyond Dehradun and Vikasnagar, with snow from late December to February. Deoban, 13 km further at about 2,865 m, holds far more snow than the town. Facilities are basic. Tip: drive to Deoban around midday, when overnight ice has melted.

5. Kanatal

A ridge at 2,590 m on the Chamba–Mussoorie road, 38 km beyond Mussoorie and 18 km from Chamba. Snow usually comes in January and February, sometimes into March, and heavy falls block the road. Many stays are camps, so check heating before you book.

6. Chail

The old Patiala summer retreat at about 2,250 m, around 45 km from Shimla. Chail gets snow in some Januaries, but not every year, and the internal road from Shimla can close after a heavy fall.

7. Nag Tibba

The best weekend snow trek from Delhi. The road ends at Pantwari, about 350 km away via Dehradun and Mussoorie; from there it is about 5.5 km to the campsite and 2 km more to the 3,022 m summit. From December to March the upper trail is usually under snow. Tip: go with an experienced local operator and carry microspikes.

8. Mukteshwar

A Kumaon ridge town at about 2,170 m, about 50 km beyond Nainital, with wide views of Nanda Devi and the Himalaya on clear winter mornings. It gets light snow in some winters, usually January or February.

9. Kufri

Shimla's snow point at 2,720 m, 16 km beyond the town, is the most reliable snow near Shimla in January and February. The Dhalli–Kufri stretch is where traffic stops after snow, sometimes with hundreds of vehicles stranded until it is cleared. Tip: go early in a local taxi, on a weekday. More in snowfall in Shimla.

10. Narkanda and Hatu Peak

Narkanda (2,708 m) is 64 km beyond Shimla on NH-5, and Hatu Peak, about 7 km further up, reaches about 3,400 m. This is the Shimla region's best bet for snow from late December to March, with ski slopes at Hatu when the cover is deep enough. NH-5 through Kufri, Fagu, Theog and Narkanda is closed after heavy snow until it is cleared, so allow a buffer day. See the Delhi to Shimla road guide for the drive.

11. Chopta

A meadow at about 2,600 m, about 450 km from Delhi via Rishikesh, Rudraprayag and Ukhimath. Snow is deep and regular in January and February, and that is the catch: heavy snow halts traffic on the Ukhimath–Chopta road, and visitors often walk the last stretch from Duggalbitta. Break the drive at Rishikesh.

12. Auli

India's best-known ski slope, at 2,500–3,050 m above Joshimath. Snow usually settles from late December, and GMVN's ski season runs from January to March. The Joshimath–Auli ropeway has been shut since the 2023 land subsidence, so access is by the 14 km road, which snow often makes difficult. Tip: stay in Auli rather than Joshimath if you want to ski, and ask your hotel about 4x4 transfers.

13. Manali, Solang and Sissu

Manali town (about 2,050 m) gets snow mainly in January; Solang Valley, 13 km on, is the most reliable snow within reach of Delhi from December to February. After snowfall, police stop tourist vehicles at Nehru Kund (about 7 km from Manali), Solang or Palchan, and only 4x4s or vehicles with chains go beyond Solang when the road is icy. The Atal Tunnel road to Sissu is the other big snow day when it is open; Rohtang is closed to tourist vehicles in winter. Cars from outside Himachal pay a ₹170 entry tax. See Manali in December and the Delhi to Manali road guide.

14. Dalhousie

A quiet Chamba hill station that gets snow from late December to February. Dainkund and the Kalatop forest hold much more: in one January spell, Dalhousie recorded over 60 cm and Kalatop–Dainkund over 100 cm. Khajjiar meadow, 24 km away, is lovely under fresh snow.

15. Patnitop

A Jammu and Kashmir hill station at 2,024 m, 112 km from Jammu. The Chenani–Nashri tunnel on the Jammu–Srinagar highway bypasses Patnitop, so take the old road to reach it. Snow comes from December to February, though local reports say it has declined sharply over the past decade.

• Follow the western disturbances. Almost all winter snow in Himachal and Uttarakhand comes with a western disturbance, a weather system from the west. IMD forecasts and yellow or orange alerts usually flag one several days ahead.
• Go one or two days after the snowfall, not during it. While it snows, roads close and views vanish. A day or two later the sky clears, main roads reopen and snow still lies higher up.
• Do not count on December. Many Decembers are dry below 2,500 m. In the 2025–26 winter, Uttarakhand's first significant snowfall did not come until 23 January 2026.
• Go on weekdays. A weekend snowfall brings traffic jams at Kufri, Solang and Mussoorie that can last for hours.
• Book refundable stays and keep a spare day. For other January ideas, see places to visit near Delhi in January.

• Leave Delhi before 6 am, and slow right down in December and January fog on the plains.
• Carry chains and practise fitting them before you need them. After snowfall, police often allow only 4x4s or vehicles with chains beyond the checkpoints.
• Watch for black ice in shaded bends early in the morning and after sunset. Use a low gear and brake gently.
• Do not drive in the hills after dark.
• Obey police stops. Checkpoints at Dhalli, Nehru Kund or Solang mean the road ahead is unsafe; park and take a local taxi.
• Keep the tank full and carry water, food and warm clothes in case you are held for hours.

• Mussoorie and Dhanaulti: Uttarakhand Roadways buses run from ISBT Kashmere Gate, and the Vande Bharat from Anand Vihar reaches Dehradun in about 4 hours 45 minutes. From Dehradun, local buses and shared taxis go up to Mussoorie and Dhanaulti.
• Shimla, Kufri and Narkanda: HRTC Volvo buses run overnight from ISBT Kashmere Gate, or take a train to Kalka and the toy train up. Use local taxis for Kufri and Narkanda after snow.
• Manali and Solang: overnight HRTC and private Volvo buses take about 12–14 hours. Solang is a short local taxi ride, at union-fixed rates.
• Nainital: the Shatabdi to Kathgodam takes about 6 hours, then it is 35 km by bus or taxi.
• Save money by travelling midweek, avoiding Christmas and New Year, and renting snow boots at Solang instead of buying them.

For more options by distance, see hill stations near Delhi, and to build a day-by-day snow trip with drive times, use the trip planner.

Which is the nearest snowfall place from Delhi?

Mussoorie and Dhanaulti in Uttarakhand, about 280–300 km and five to seven hours away. Snow usually falls there on a few days between late December and February.

What are the best snowfall places near Delhi?

For reliable snow, Solang Valley near Manali, Auli, Chopta and Narkanda are the best. For a shorter trip with a reasonable chance, choose Kufri, Dhanaulti or Kanatal in January and February.

Which snow hill station near Delhi is best for a weekend?

Dhanaulti or Mussoorie for a two-night weekend, or Kufri if you leave early on Friday. Manali, Auli and Chopta need three or four days.

Can you see snow near Delhi in December?

Yes, but mostly at higher places such as Solang Valley, Auli and the Nag Tibba trail. Lower towns such as Mussoorie, Nainital and Shimla are often dry in December, and most of their snow comes in January and February.

Can you reach snow near Delhi by bus?

Yes. Buses from ISBT Kashmere Gate run to Dehradun, Shimla and Manali, and local buses and taxis go on to the snow points. Trains to Dehradun, Kalka and Kathgodam are faster.

When is the best time to see snow near Delhi?

Mid-January to mid-February, one or two days after an IMD-forecast western disturbance, on a weekday if you can.