Uttarakhand in December: cold, clear and the start of the snow season
What the weather is like in each hill station, where the first snow is likely, the best places to go, and how to plan around the Christmas–New Year rush.
- ~13° / 3 °C Mussoorie & Nainital (IMD)
- ~22° / 8 °C Rishikesh & Dehradun
- Late Dec snow more likely
- Closed Char Dham shrines
Updated November 2026 · HP Tourism registered travel agent · Reg. No. DTO-MND-11-243/2022 · certificates
December in Uttarakhand is cold, mostly dry and clear. Mussoorie and Nainital average about 13 °C by day and 3–4 °C at night, Rishikesh and Dehradun about 22 °C and 8 °C (IMD normals). Snow is likely at Auli, Chopta and on the Kedarkantha trek, and possible in Mussoorie, Dhanaulti, Mukteshwar and Nainital, mostly in the second half of the month. The best places to visit are Auli for snow, Mussoorie and Nainital for hill-station winters, Rishikesh for the river, yoga and mild days, Jim Corbett for safaris, and Kedarkantha for a snow trek. The Char Dham shrines are closed. From about Christmas to New Year the hill stations fill up and traffic builds, so book early.
- WeatherMussoorie ~12.7° / 4.5 °C, Nainital ~12.8° / 2.9 °C, Rishikesh ~21.7° / 7.6 °C (IMD).
- SnowLikely at Auli, Chopta, Kedarkantha; possible in the hill stations late in the month.
- Best placesAuli, Mussoorie, Nainital, Rishikesh, Jim Corbett, Kedarkantha trek.
- CrowdsQuiet till mid-December; busy from about Christmas to New Year.
- ClosedKedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri.
Uttarakhand weather today: Auli, Mussoorie, Nainital and Rishikesh
Current temperature and the next days’ high, low, rain and snow at four places you are likely to visit in December.
Forecast data: MET Norway (CC BY 4.0), refreshed about once a day — last update —.
What is the weather like in Uttarakhand in December?
December is one of the driest months of the year in Uttarakhand, with clear skies, cold mornings and, in the hill stations, nights near freezing. Western disturbances bring a few cloudy days, with rain in the valleys and snow on the heights — usually more often in the second half of the month.
| Place | Height | December day / night | Snow in December? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rishikesh | ~340 m | 21.7° / 7.6 °C (Dehradun IMD ref.) | No; cool, foggy mornings |
| Dehradun | ~640 m | 21.7° / 7.6 °C (IMD) | No |
| Jim Corbett | ~350 m | 22.1° / 7.7 °C (Roorkee IMD ref.) | No; misty mornings, cold open-jeep safaris |
| New Tehri | ~1,750 m | 17.1° / 4.5 °C (IMD) | Rare |
| Joshimath | ~1,875 m | 13.4° / 3.9 °C (IMD) | Occasional, late in the month |
| Mussoorie | ~2,005 m | 12.7° / 4.5 °C (IMD) | Possible, mostly late in the month |
| Nainital | ~2,084 m | 12.8° / 2.9 °C (IMD) | Uncommon |
| Mukteshwar | 2,171 m | 14.4° / 3.6 °C (IMD) | Possible |
| Auli | ~2,500–3,050 m | Below freezing at night | Likely, deepening late in the month |
| Chopta | ~2,680 m | ~8° / −1 °C (estimate) | Likely; first heavy snow |
IMD = India Meteorological Department normals; “ref.” = a nearby station shown as a reference. Every place: Uttarakhand weather · snow outlook: Uttarakhand snowfall 2026-27.
Will there be snow in Uttarakhand in December?
On the heights, very likely. Kedarnath and Badrinath already had heavy snow in late October and early November 2026, and Auli, Chopta–Tungnath, Harsil and the Kedarkantha trail usually have snow on the ground by mid to late December.
In the hill stations, possible but not certain. Mussoorie, Dhanaulti, Chakrata, Mukteshwar and Nainital get snow in some Decembers, mostly late in the month; in other years the first snow waits until January — last season it came on 23 January 2026. If snow is the main reason for your trip, plan Auli or Chopta, or keep Dhanaulti as a day trip from Mussoorie.
Uttarakhand in winter
Auli, Mussoorie, Nainital, Rishikesh, Corbett and the Kedarkantha trail — real photographs, each credited to its photographer.
Best places to visit in Uttarakhand in December
From snow slopes to a mild river town.
Auli
The surest snow in Uttarakhand, 16 km by road above Joshimath; the cable car has been closed since January 2023. Auli in December →
Mussoorie and Landour
Cold, sunny days and Winterline sunsets; snow possible late in the month. Mussoorie in December →
Nainital
Crisp days, clear Himalayan views from Snow View and Tiffin Top. Nainital in December →
Rishikesh
The mildest choice: Ganga aarti, yoga and day-time walks by the river. Rishikesh in December →
Jim Corbett
Winter safaris with the Dhikala zone open; cold, misty mornings. Jim Corbett weather →
Kedarkantha trek
Uttarakhand’s classic winter trek from Sankri. Kedarkantha weather →
Chopta–Tungnath
Snow and silence; roads can close after heavy falls. Chopta in winter →
Mukteshwar and Kausani
Wide Himalayan views in the clearest month. Mukteshwar weather →
Uttarakhand in December: crowds, roads and packing
Crowds: the first half of December is quiet. From about Christmas to New Year, Mussoorie, Nainital, Dhanaulti and Auli fill up, hotels sell out and traffic queues build on the hill roads — book early and travel up on weekdays where you can.
Roads: after a snow spell, roads to Auli, Chopta, Dhanaulti and Munsiyari can close for hours. Travel in daylight with a driver used to hill roads and keep a spare day. On the plains, morning fog can delay trains to Dehradun, Haridwar and Kathgodam late in the month.
Packing: a padded jacket, thermals, gloves and a cap for the hill stations; proper winter boots for Auli, Chopta and Kedarkantha; a warm layer even for Rishikesh evenings.
Shrines: the Char Dham temples are closed for winter — see Char Dham closing dates 2026. Going in January instead: Auli · Mussoorie · Nainital. For Himachal or Kashmir instead: Himachal in December · Kashmir in December.
Our Uttarakhand trips
Hotels, meals and a private car in one quote.
Planning Uttarakhand in December?
Tell us your dates, where you are starting from and how many of you are travelling. We watch the forecast, suggest where snow is likeliest for your dates and send one written quote with hotels, meals and a private car. Suzu Travels is a travel agent registered with HP Tourism, based in Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh, and plans trips across north India.
Uttarakhand in December: frequently asked questions
Is December a good time to visit Uttarakhand?
Yes — it is dry and clear, with cold hill stations, mild days in Rishikesh, winter safaris in Corbett and snow on the heights. Book early for Christmas–New Year.
Which places in Uttarakhand get snow in December?
Auli, Chopta–Tungnath, Harsil and the Kedarkantha trail usually do; Mussoorie, Dhanaulti, Mukteshwar and Nainital sometimes, mostly late in the month.
How cold is Mussoorie in December?
About 12.7 °C by day and 4.5 °C at night on average (IMD normals).
How cold is Nainital in December?
About 12.8 °C by day and 2.9 °C at night on average (IMD normals).
Is Kedarnath open in December?
No. Kedarnath closed on 11 November 2026 and Badrinath on 16 November; they reopen in late April or May.
Is Jim Corbett open in December?
Yes — December is in the main winter safari season, and the Dhikala zone is open from 15 November.
Sources
- India Meteorological Department — climatological normals
- DD News: Fresh snowfall blankets Badrinath — 2 Nov 2026
- MET Norway Locationforecast (CC BY 4.0) — live forecast data
Photo credits
Auli under snow — Photo: Amit Shaw, CC0 · The Himalaya from Nainital — Photo: Subhrajyoti07, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Mussoorie rooftops in snow — Photo: Paul Hamilton, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Nainital around its lake — Photo: Harshit SR, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Rishikesh across the Ganga — Photo: meg and rahul, CC BY 2.0 · Morning mist at Dhikala — Photo: Timothy Gonsalves, CC BY-SA 4.0 · The snow trail to Kedarkantha — Photo: rakesh kumar, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Himalayan peaks from Auli — Photo: Iamkher, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Evening aarti at Parmarth Niketan — Photo: आर्या जोशी, CC BY-SA 4.0
