Top 10 Slow Travel Destinations In India For 2026

Waquar Habib

Alleppey Backwaters, Kerala, India

Alleppey’s tranquil backwaters offer slow canoes, quiet villages, toddy shops, and serene homestays. Travellers can savour unhurried waterside life, interact with locals, and enjoy Kerala’s relaxed rhythms away from tourist crowds.

A boathouse in the backwaters of Alleppey | Shutterstock

Gokarna, Karnataka (India)

Gokarna offers quiet coves, relaxed beach walks and yoga retreats. The laid-back town avoids Goa’s tourist rush, fostering calm pulses, local food and peaceful seaside sunsets.

A view of the Om Beach, Gokarna, Karnataka | Shutterstock

Majuli, Assam (India)

The world’s largest river island, Majuli is rich in Assamese majuli culture, bamboo huts, mask-making monasteries — time here slows amid ferries, festivals and river rhythms.

A scene from Majuli, Assam | sachin_bharali/instagram

Chettinad, Tamil Nadu (India)

Chettinad is a heritage-laden region featuring grand merchant mansions, slow-paced verandas, weaving workshops and authentic cuisine — perfect for lingering in tradition.

Traditional house in Chettinad | seetukohli/instagram

Mawlynnong, Meghalaya (India)

Dubbed “Asia’s cleanest village”, Mawlynnong invites travellers to walk root bridges, stay in homestays and absorb Khasi forest life at a gentle, mindful pace.

A street in Mawlynnong, Meghalaya | Wikimedia Commons

Chopta, Uttarakhand (India)

Nestled in the Himalayas, Chopta offers pine forests, alpine meadows and night skies. It’s a peaceful base for star-gazing, hiking to Tungnath, and nature immersion.

A view of Deoriatal near Chopta, Uttarakhand | Shutterstock

Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh (India)

This quaint hill town is tucked into the lower Himalayas. Quiet church paths, forested trails and colonial-era cottages make it ideal for slow walks and unwinding.

Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh | kasauli.info/instagram

Pulga, Himachal Pradesh (India)

Situated in Parvati Valley, Pulga is a small retreat surrounded by deodar forests, wooden houses and Himalayan peaks — perfect for unplugging and just being.

Locale of Pulga, Himachal Pradesh | garvit.clicks/instagram

Yana, Karnataka (India)

Yana’s dramatic limestone rock formations, forest treks and quiet cave temple offer a peaceful, soulful escape. The simple village vibe amplifies the slow-travel feel.

Yana Caves, Karnataka | Shutterstock

Anakkampoyil, Kerala (India)

Tucked in the hills of Kerala, Anakkampoyil features cascading streams, dense forests, forest walks and calm homestays — perfect for slowing down and reconnecting with nature.

Landscape of Anakkampoyil, Kerala | pixelgraphy.sr/instagram

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Somewhere in Philippines | Unsplash
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