Welcome the New Year on a beachside as you watch the sky light up with fireworks, party the night away in one of the plush lounges of India's metro cities or let the adventurer lose in you as to hit the snow-covered slopes of the north and the northeast. India indulges vacationers and party-goers with a host of experiences that will make your New Year celebrations memorable. Though the country offers several venues to ring in the new year, here are the top picks.

Goa 
The pocket-sized paradise of Goa is idyllic for ringing in the New Year. Sun, sea, sand, spices and seafood, along with a balmy weather call to the soul of vacationers, who can have a grand time here. Goa's vast beaches, lined with shacks, host exciting parties and festivals that draw huge crowds. You can enjoy bonfires and barbeques and dig into the delicious cuisine as you party the night away. Goa has many trendy cafes, lounges and clubs that offer exquisite nightlife options. 
Things to do: Beach-hopping, visiting trendy cafes and beach shacks, relishing delicious cuisine, fireworks, bonfire and barbeque.

Puducherry
Puducherry not only fascinates you, it makes you fall in love - with its colonial structures, seafront promenades, tree-lined boulevards, unexplored and pristine beaches, and enchanting backwaters. Wherever you go in Puducherry, its deeply-entrenched French connection is never far away. You can take your fill of it in various French-style cafes and lounges peppered around the town. The 1.5-km-long Promenade beach is one of the hotspots for New Year celebrations, where you can enjoy mesmeric sunsets. Tourists can also visit Gingee Fort, which is a quiet retreat away from the din, ideal for some self-reflection or a serene stroll with friends and family.

Sri Aurobindo Ashram is a popular spiritual retreat in Puducherry. It is a great place to meditate and a sanctuary of amity and harmony, with colourful flowers and plants dotting the simplistic yet astoundingly beautiful place. For those who want to start their new year with adventure, scuba diving in the aquamarine waters of Puducherry is a great choice. An abundance of marine life and warm temperatures of the East Coast make Puducherry an excellent site for scuba diving. Dive beneath this ancient French colony and swim with schools of manta rays, kingfish and hundreds of other species of marine animals. You can also take a shot at body surfing, in which you forgo a surfboard and use your bodies to ride waves that can sometimes crest at as much as 6 m high!
Things to do: Attending beach parties, visiting Promenade beach, meditating at Sri Aurobindo Ashram, scuba diving, body surfing, visiting Gingee Fort, eating in French cafes.

Gokarna, Karnataka
With stunning beaches, offering several adventure sports, Gokarna, in Karnataka, is a town with many identities. Most of the beaches in Gokarna are surrounded by rolling blues of the Arabian sea and the cliffs, providing picturesque panoramas of the sea and skies as far as the eyes can see. Spending New Year's eve on one of the beaches of Gokarna is a splendid option. Some of the popular venues include Paradise beach, Om beach, Gokarna beach, Kudle beach, etc. You can either participate in a beach trek or camp underneath a carpet of stars with the soulful sound of Arabian Sea serenading you to sleep. Adventure seekers can participate in such sports as jet skiing, boating, angling, dolphin spotting, rock climbing and banana boat riding. For party-goers, several live performances and silent disco DJ nights are held across the city. 
Things to do: Attending live performances, visiting silent discos, staying in tents on the beach, jet-skiing, boating, angling, dolphin spotting, rock climbing, banana boat riding, beach trekking.

Andaman and Nicobar Islands
With turquoise waters and shimmering white beaches surrounded by a mangrove forest and primitive jungles, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are a tropical paradise that become a popular party destination for New Year. One of the best spots here is Radhanagar Beach, a pristine white beach. It boasts ethereal beauty and just walking on it, with the water swirling at your ankles, can be a cathartic experience. Andaman offers visitors scuba diving opportunities. One can enjoy the underwater marine life and view the rarest of corals by snorkelling and scuba diving at North Bay, Carbyn's Cove, Chidiya tapu, Havelock, Jolly Buoy, Redskin Island and Ross and Smith Islands. The coastal belt surrounding these islands is the abode of one of the richest coral reef ecosystems in the world and most of this area is still untouched by human activity. Many of the islands are surrounded by reef fringes, often several hundred meters wide and are separated from the shore by a lagoon of even width. Cinque Island is one of the best diving sites in the islands, with its clear emerald waters providing visibility of up to 80 ft. The deep dive offers views of a variety of marine life, including black coral.
Things to do: Walking along Radhanagar Beach, scuba diving, snorkelling, sea-plane riding, glass-bottom boat riding, trekking, shopping, nature walks, sea walking, banana boat riding, parasailing, birdwatching.

Mumbai

The city of Mumbai pulsates with energy and excitement as it welcomes New Year. While its various clubs, lounges and cafes host dynamic parties, its quieter corners hold delights that will leave you mesmerised. The Gateway of India is one of the best spots to party when you can watch the sky light up with fireworks as the clock strikes midnight. This is complemented by great food and music that bring an overall cheerful vibe for a prosperous New Year. The gorgeous Marine Drive, a sea-facing promenade, is decked to the hilt on New Year's eve. The street lights along this curving three and a half kilometre long road create the illusion of a string of pearls around a neck. The sight of sparkling waters of the Arabian Sea combined with the cool, fresh breeze that blows in, makes this area one of the most exclusive party destinations. A fun thing to do here is to hire one of the colourfully decorated horse chariots and ride along the wide road, much like the stars do in the movies. 
The Sanjay Gandhi National Park is 103 sq km of pure wilderness, right in the heart of a bustling city. It is a great spot to spend New Year's eve in. Hosting over 254 species of birds, 40 species of mammals, 78 species of reptiles and amphibians, 150 species of butterflies and over 1,300 species of plants, it holds many attractions for naturalists, birdwatchers and tourists across the globe.
Things to do: Watching the fireworks at Gateway of India, chariot ride on Marine Drive, indulge in delicacies, shopping, visiting Sanjay Gandhi National Park

Gangtok

Perched on steeply-tiered hills in the eastern Himalayas, the picturesque city of Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim, is set against the backdrop of the majestic Mt Kanchenjunga (Khangchendzonga). A popular New Year destination, it invites adventure seekers for its well-laid trekking trails and avenues for mountain biking, hiking, paragliding and river rafting. The city allows you to let loose your inner daredevil and explore the mighty Himalayas like never before. Apart from being a centre for Tibetan Buddhism, Gangtok is a go-to destination for mountain and wildlife lovers. Magnificent views of various monasteries, Mt Kanchenjunga, Siniolchu, Chumbi Valley and the Chinese border will leave you spellbound. Uniqueness, vibrancy, colours, clouds and warm people all come together to make Gangtok irresistible. The city is also a prime destination for shopping-lovers. The government-run handicraft centre offers unique artefacts, while local hangouts like MG Marg are go-to spots for delicious Sikkimese food and artistic handicrafts. The Gangtok Food and Culture Festival held in December every year draws tourists in hordes and is a celebration of the heritage of the city.

Things to do: Sight the majestic Mt Kanchenjunga, mountain biking, hiking, paragliding, river rafting, visit monasteries, Siniolchu, Chumbi Valley and the Chinese border, shopping, indulge in Sikkimese food.

Manali 
The magnetic town of Manali beckons to the soul of adventurers, nature lovers as well as solace-seekers. Nestled in the Himalayas, in the north Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, Manali is a charming hill station that makes a perfect backdrop for New Year celebrations. Its snowy slopes offer amazing skiing opportunities. Tourists can also try trekking, horse riding, camping, zorbing, paragliding, etc. Thrill-seekers can hail the new year by hitting the Manali-Leh highway that provides an adventurous ride.
Things to do: skiing, trekking, horse riding, camping, zorbing, paragliding, biking down the Manali-Leh highway

Kodaikanal
One of the most popular tourist spots of South India, Kodaikanal is blessed with thrilling trekking routes, pristine waterfalls, serene lakes, ancient caves, exquisite temples and grand churches. It is an idyllic place to ring in the New Year. Its two popular lakes - Berijam Lake and the Kodai Lake - are a must-visit. Set amidst natural wilderness, the calm and tranquil waters of the Berijam Lake are a delight for nature lovers while the Kodai Lake offers boating opportunities for visitors which makes for a truly memorable experience. Tourists can also take enjoyable pony rides around Kodai Lake. The picturesque hill station provides great opportunities for adventure lovers who can trek to Pillar Rocks and the Dolphin Rocks or go hiking at the hilly terrains of Kodaikanal. The picturesque Byrant Park is another attraction. The waterfalls of Kodaikanal offer a refreshing environment to visitors and must be visited during a trip. Some of the popular waterfalls in the hill station include the Silver Cascade Falls, the Bear Shola Falls, the Pambar falls and the Thalaiyar Falls. The La Saleth Church and the Christ the King Church are sure to leave you smitten by their old-world charm. Kodaikanal is located at a distance of 120 km from Madurai.
Things to do: Visit Berijam and Kodai Lakes, trek to Pillar and Dolphin Rocks, visit Byrant Park, visit waterfalls, visit churches

Delhi
The heartbeat of the country, Delhi is famed as one of the best New Year party destinations. With old neighbourhoods that offer delicious dishes to a vibrant and contemporary cosmopolitan scene that bathes in luxury, Delhi has much to offer vacationers and party-goers. The bustling old quarter of the capital, centered around Old Delhi, preserves its antiquity and awes with its vibrant food culture and winding by lanes lined with shops selling almost everything under the sun. Strolling through Old Delhi is an unforgettable experience as you can sample some of the oldest recipes - which trace their origin to Mughal kitchens - and soak in essentially ethnic culture as you explore exquisite handicrafts, wholesale clothes and customised jewellery. One of the landmarks in Delhi, India Gate, a stunning archway is lit up to the hilt to mark the turning of the year. Driving down from Rashtrapati Bhawan to India Gate is an exhilarating experience.
Hauz Khas in Delhi is another great stopover that is lined with clubs, cafes and lounges that host spectacular parties and serve scrumptious dishes. Connaught Place is also the epicentre of celebrations. A unique bazaar that lies in the heart of the city, Dilli Haat is a blend of cultural extravaganza, crafts and food. One can buy a number of traditional and ethnic items from the market. Not only that, the haat offers some delicious food items. You can visit the various food stalls set up by individual states of India that serve authentic delicacies native to their region. For those, who want to welcome the new year on a serene note, Delhi has several green spaces that make an ideal picnic spot. Pack some delicious food and spend your evening at Lodhi Gardens, Garden of Five Senses, etc.
Things to do: Indulge in Mughlai food, picnic at Lodhi Gardens and Garden of Five Senses, Shop at Dilli Haat, party at Hauz Khas and Connaught Place, drive down to India Gate, explore Old Delhi

Udaipur
Popularly known as the City of Lakes, serene Udaipur is the crowning jewel of royal Rajasthan. With shimmering lakes visible from almost every rooftop, fairytale palaces, sprawling havelis and narrow lanes weaving through colourful markets as ancient as the city's history, Udaipur's charm is unmatched. Nestled in the mighty Aravalli range, surrounded by dense forests and craggy hills, and magical sunrises and sunsets turning its lakes into pools of gold, Udaipur is one of the most picturesque destinations to celebrate New Year. Visitors can enjoy tranquil boating on Lake Pichola, the largest of Udaipur's lakes, spend a day taking in the jaw-dropping opulence of City Palace, visit the time-weathered temples, shop at the art and curio stalls that line the streets, enjoy Rajasthani folk music and dance performances, taste mouth-watering cuisine or drive out of the city to discover legends hidden in the wooded Aravalli hills and the impregnable forts dotting its surroundings. No wonder then, Udaipur is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country!

Things to do: Palace hopping, handicraft shopping, boat ride at Pichola Lake, indulge in Rajasthani thali, enjoy Rajasthani folk music.