Hill Stations have always been a major attraction in every part of the world. Who doesn’t like those serene ambience, those lofty tops, the tall pine trees, snow covered peaks and the misty surroundings. The cool temperature of these hill stations in India makes them one of the best tourist destinations. India is surrounded by mountains in the north and is home to a number of smaller mountain ranges throughout the country. Every time you plan a trip in India you just cannot ignore its beautiful hills. Hill stations tours in India offers a relaxing vacations away from chaotic life of the city. These hills are not just a great honeymoon destination but also turn out to be excellent places for family outing, a trip with friends and business meetings. So here we are with a list of some of the best hill stations of India that you will definitely love to visit at least once in your life.
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It used to be the summer capital of Bombay Province during colonial times and is one of the most popular hill station in Maharashtra which offers crisp mountain air, stunning valleys and unique perspective of the majestic hill range. Mahabaleshwar hill station near Mumbai is also known for its surroundings and 14 points that offers the grand unique view enjoy the entire scenery especially during the monsoons in Mahabaleshwar.
Places to Visit in Mahabaleshwar – Wilson Point or Kate’s Point , Bombay Point or Elphinstone Point , Venna Lake, Panchgani.
Photo Credit : Aleksandr Zykov
The summer capital of British India is one of the most famous hill stations in India. Shimla leaves you mesmerized with its bewitching beauty, no wonder it is a great honeymoon destination of India. Not only newlywed couples but people who visit this city with their families fall in love with the mountains of Shimla. During summers a lot of crowd prefers to visit Shimla for its cool weather.
Places to Visit in Shimla– Jakhoo Hill, Shimla State Museum, Summer Hill, Christ Church, Tara Devi Temple, Annandale, Shoolini Temple, Viceregal Lodge and The Ridge are some of the major attractions of this place.
Photo Credit : Raman Virdi
Manali is another very important hill station situated in the state of Himachal Pradesh. This beautiful city is offers you a number of adventure sports activities like skiing and sees a huge number of crowd all through the year. Set at an altitude of 2,050 meters in the Beas river valley, Manali is a top rated tourist destination among honeymooners and ski enthusiasts.
Places to Visit in Manali – The city has a number of other attractions like Hadimba Temple, Rohtang Pass, Solang Valley, Tibetan Monasteries, Vashist Hot Water Springs, Manu Temple, Nehru Kund, Bhrigu Lake and Kothi.
Photo Credit- Paul Hamilton
Often referred to as ‘Queen of Hiils’, Mussoorie is a pretty hill station located in the state of Uttarakhand. It is situated in the foothills of the Garhwal Himalayan ranges. Mussoorie offer unparallel views of the dazzling Doon Valley and the Shivalik range. The highest point in Mussoorie is Lal Tibba which rests at an altitude of 3000 meters above the sea level. A long walk on the Mall Road and Camle Back Road will surely make your trip to Mussoorie a memorable one.
Places to Visit in Mussoorie – Mussoorie Lake, Christ Church, Happy Valley, Mussoorie Heritage Center, Gun Hill, Company Garden, Kempty Fall, Jwala Devi Temple, Nag Devta Temple
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Also called the “Meadow of Flowers”, Gulmarg is possibly the closest thing to paradise that you will ever see. The town is within the Himalayas and is within miles of the Line of Control between India and Pakistan. The valley is 3 kms long and is full of beautiful flowers like blueberries and daisies. Gulmarg is also famous for its ski and golf resorts. This little paradise also gives you the opportunity of riding on the world’s second highest cable car.
Places to Visit in Gulmarg– Gulmarg Gondola, Baba Reshi Shrine, Gulmarg Biosphere Reserve, Kongdori and Shark Fin.
Photo Credit- ishanmanjrekar
Auli is the most important and possibly the best skiing destination in India. The slopes here provide enough delight to professional and novice skiers. Situated in the state of Uttarakhand, this beautiful mountain region rests at an altitude of 2500 to 3050 meters above sea level. It is surrounded by coniferous and oak forests, with a panoramic view of the lofty peaks of one of the greatest mountain range in the world, the Himalayas.
Places to Visit in Auli – Cable ride, Vishnu Prayag, Joshimath, Badrinath, Artificial Lake and Gurso Bugyal are some of the major attractions that you will find in and around Auli.
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Almora is considered the cultural heart of the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand. Perched at a height of 1,861 metres, this town is in the shape of a horse saddle. Almora is surrounded by thick forests of pine and fir trees. The two rivers Koshi, and Suyal, flow through the town, adding charm to this picturesque town. You get to see the gorgeous snow capped Himalayas form Almora.
Places to Visit in Almora– Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kasar Devi Temple, Kaarmal Sun Temple, Govind Ballabh Pant Museum, Kumaon Regimental Center Museum, Bright End Corner, Martola, Kalimut, Deer Park and Simotala are the most important landmarks of this town.
Photo Credit : Anirudh Singh
Dharamshala is a city in the upper reaches of the Kangra Valley. It is surrounded by dense coniferous forest. Dharamshala is also home to the holy Dalai Lama. The city is divided into two parts namely, Dharamshala and Mcleodganj. It remains an important tourist destination all through the year especially in summers as it provides relief from the harsh summers of North India.
Places to visit in Dharamshala – Naam Art Gallery, Monolithic Rock Temples, Bhagsu Waterfall, Bhagsunag Temple, Kangra Museum, Kunal Pathri Temple, Chamunda Temple and Dal Lake are its few important landmarks.
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Darjeeling is one of the most popular and the best hill stations from the east of India. It is a very important honeymoon destination too. Situated in the state of West Bengal, it is perched at an elevation of 2,042.2 meters. Darjeeling is located in the Mahabharat Range or Lesser Himalaya. It is best known for its tea industry and the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Places to Visit in Darjeeling -Senchal Lake, Ghoom Monastery,Mahakal Temple, Observatory Hill, Mountaineering Institute and Darjeeling Zoo, Tiger Hill,Bhutia Busty Monastery and Dhirdham Temple are some of its other important attractions.
Photo Credit : Kalyan Neelamraju
Gangtok is the capital of Sikkim. The serene environment if this city makes it an ideal holiday destination for families as well as couples. It is viewed as one of the most visited honeymoon destination in India. Gangtok has a number of adventure activities to offer its guests. You can get some of the best ropeway cable ride, paragliding and river rafting experiences in this city. You even get to see the Kanchenjunga peak from here.
Places To Visit in Gangtok -Tsomgo Lake, Saramsa Garden, Cholamu Lake, Hanuman Tok, Seven Sisters Waterfalls, Shngba Rhododendron Sanctuary, Gnesh Tok View Point, Kanchendzonga National Park and Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary are some of the best things that you get to see in Gangtok.
photo Credit- Masrur Ashraf
Popularly known as the “Scotland of East”, Shillong is one of the best hill stations of India. It is a great spot for family holidays as well as honeymoon. Shillong is the capital of the India state of Meghalaya. It has one of the largest golf courses of Asia. Steep hills, attractive waterfall, greenery and so much more make this one of the best tourist destinations in India. Shillong is located at an altitude of 4,908 feet above the sea level. It highest point is the Shillong Peak which is perched at an altitude of 6,449 feet.
Places to Visit in Shillong – Umiam Lake, Lady Hydari Park, Elephant Fall, Wards Lake, Mawjymbuin Caves, LaitlumCanyons and Mawphlang are some of the best things that you get to see in Shillong.
Photo Credit- Bimal K C
Munnar is located in Kerala. It is a town and hill station in the Idukki district. It is situated at around 1,600 meters above sea level, in the Western Ghats range of mountains. The waterfalls, coffee gardens and scenic valleys make Munnar a great place to holiday. In fact it is one of the best hill stations in South India. Munnar is also a most visited honeymoon destination in India.
Places to Visit in Munnar – Mattupetty Dam, Eravikulam National Park, Kundala Lake, Top Station, Echo Point, Tea Museum, Marayoor Sandalwood Forests, Attukad Waterfalls and Blosson Park are some of its most important landmarks.
Photo Credit- Ramkumar
Kodaikanal is often known as the ‘Gift of the Forests’. It was discovered quiet in 1845. This beautiful hill station is home to dramatic waterfalls, prehistoric caves, rock pillars, outstanding water bodies and tranquil forest areas. Kodaikanal is referred to as the “Princess of Hill stations”. It is located in Tamil Nadu. It is well-known for its spices, homemade chocolates, herbal teas and coffees, oils and the orchids.
Places to Visit in Kodaikanal – Berijam Lake, Coakers Walk, Kodai Lake, Kurinjiandavar Temple, Dolphin’s Nose, Bryant Park, Green Valley View and Kopdaikanal Solar Observatory are some of the major attractions of Kodaiksanal.
Photo Credit : Adam Jones
Udhagamandalam or Udhagai or Ootacamund or Ooty is famous tourist destination in Tamil Nadu. Ooty is located in Nilgiri Hills and is a well known for its mile ling tea gardens. It is a very popular hill station in South India and attracts a large number of tourists including families and couples. The Nilgiri Toy Train gives you the most captivating views of the mountains.
Places to Visit in Ooty – Ooty is home to some of the most beautiful attractions like Avalanche Valley, Rose Garden, Kalhatti Falls, Mudumalai National Park, Mukurthi National Park, Deer Park, Wax World and Tribal Museum.
Photo Credit : Aditya Patawari
Coorg is located in the Western Ghats in the state of Karnataka. Evergreen forests, alluring waterfalls, pleasantly flowing streams and rivers make this town a beautiful holiday destination in India. Coorg os often called the ‘Kashmir of South India’. It is famous around the world for the variety of coffee and tea plantations. Coorg is a great wonderful holiday destination in Karnataka and attracts a large number of people throughout the year.
Places to Visit in Coorg – Abbay Falls, Irupu Falls, Namdroling Nyingmapa Tibetan Monastery and Golden Temple are some of its important and amazing attractions.
Photo Credit : Thangaraj Kumaravel
Coonoor is situated in Nilgiri Mountain Range in Tamil Nadu. It has an average elevation of 1850 metres and features sub-tropical highland climate. The hill station is also renowned for its aromatic teas. Coonoor boasts trekking and hiking activities and is also a paradise for the bird watchers. Undulating hills of tea plantations, bright gardens and cheering atmosphere makes it a popular holiday destination in India.
Places to Visit in Coonoor – It has a number of important attractions like Heritage Train, Sim’s Park, Dolphin’s Nose, Rallia Dam, Lambs Rock, Laws Fall and Doorg Fort.
Photo Credit : Sanjoy Ghosh
Nainital is a beautiful hill station in the Kumaon foothills of the outer Himalayas. It is situated at an altitude of 2,084 metres above the sea level. Nainital is often referred as the ‘Lake District’ of India. It is a wonderful destination that attracts families as well as couples. Boating in naini lake is one of the most rejuvenating things that you will love in this city. Nainital is also one of the most visited honeymoon destination in North India.
Places to Visit in Nainital – A long with a picturesque setting, Nainital has a few more attractions like the Naina Devi Temple, Gurney House, Govind Ballabh Pant Zoo, Tiffin Top, Snow Vie Point and Astronomical Observatory.
Photo Credit : Sebastian Preußer
Leh is the second largest district in the country. It is located at an average elevation of about 3500 metres. It is one of the most beautiful places that one has ever seen. A bike ride on the Leh Manali Highway while proceeding towards Leh is an experience that all adventure lovers love. Leh is a great destination for all those who are looking for some adventure in life.
Places to Visit in Leh– Shanti Stupa, Leh Palace, Hemis gompha, Ladakh Marathon, Leh Trekking Trails, War Museum, Chamba Temple, Jama Masjid along with many more will interest you in this district.
Photo Credit : Koshy Koshy
Mount Abu is the only hill station in Rajasthan. It lies in the Aravali Range. Mount Abu is well known for its Dilwara Jain Temples. From here you get to see breathtaking sunset. For those who want a taste of both desert and hills, Mount Abu is a great destination. As Rajasthan is world famous for its handloom and handicraft industry, Mount Abu proves to be a great place for those in interested in some authentic Rajasthani goods.
Places to Visit in Mount Abu – Nakki Lake, Achalgarh, Guru Shikhar, Peace Park and Adhar Devi Temple are some more things that you may like to visit while in Mount Abu.
Photo Credit : Sandeep Brar Jat
Chail is a hill station in Himachal Pradesh. It is home to the highest cricket ground in the world. This cricket ground is perched at an altitude of 2,250 m. It is well known for the Chail Palace that features great architecture. Chail is also a great place for hikers. It is surrounded by the forests of chir pine and gigantic deodars.
Places to Visit in Chail – Chail Sanctuary, Sadhupul, Chail Gurudwara and Kali ka Tibba are some other important attractions of this town.
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