Hill stations and hill towns of India

shimla-Himachal Pradesh 2205m

Shimla is a charming sprawling Himalayan hill station with a leisurely pace of life and an interesting past. It is bound to be a true highlight of any trip to India. It was the British summer capital since 1864 and once part of the Kingdom of Nepal, but is now a firm favorite with Indian honeymooners, giving it a true holiday feel. Shimla is popular for its fresh mountain air in the hot season, snowfall in the winter, and the famous scenic toy train ride on the way down (or up). The toy train has recently been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the famous narrow gauge mountain railway journeys in India. If you visit Shimla during your trip to India, you can stroll through the mall and enjoy views of the Himalayas, relax in the garden of your hotel, or walk to the Monkey Temple, located on a hill above the city.

Mount Abu– South Rajasthan – 1200 m

Rajasthan’s only hill station attracting many Indian tourists from the neighboring plains state of Gujarat and those retreating from the desert heat of Rajasthan. From one of the viewpoints you can see Pakistan on a clear day: a unique experience to add to your India travel plan. The Maharaja of Jaipur built a summer retreat here in 1897 overlooking the lake. You can also do some nice walks here and there are also temples to admire and a polo field. Diwali is really big here and it gets very crowded at this time.

Darjeeling– Hills of West Bengal – 2134 m

The main attraction of West Bengal; Darjeeling is separated from Nepal and Bhutan by snow-capped peaks and is located in the northeastern foothills of the Himalayas. Take a break from the bustling cities during your trip to India to experience the fresh mountain air of this enchanting hill station, surrounded by emerald tea plantations and home to a fascinating mix of Indians, Nepalese and Bhutanese. You can stroll through lush green forests, enjoy fresh mountain air, and explore colorful Buddhist monasteries. At the end, you can toast your visit with a steaming cup of Darjeeling, the champagne of teas. This is an excellent place to start a tour of northeast India into the Himalayas, as well as the gateway to the relatively unknown state of Sikkim and neighboring Bhutan.

Gangtok– East Sikkim – 1400-1700m

The name Gangtok means ‘top of the hill’ and it is the capital of Sikkim, a beautiful province that many travelers forget to add to their India itinerary. The buildings are perched along a sharp mountain ridge. The city itself is not that attractive in its architecture, but the views, when there are no clouds, are very impressive. There are great views of the Kangchenjunga Range from various points along the way. Mount Kanchenjunga, the third tallest mountain in the world, towers over the entire landscape, dwarfing its surroundings. Many holidaying Bengalis see it as a hill station holiday resort. For this reason, it can get very crowded during festivals, so keep that in mind if you’re thinking of including Sikkim in your India tour.

Dharamsala– Himachal Pradesh 1219m

Dharamshala is known as ‘Little Lhasa’, and it will put a really different spin on your trip to India. It is filled with burgundy and saffron clad Buddhist monks waving prayer flags. He will find that the crisp mountain air and crisp air is a welcome change from city smog and hectic traffic. During your stay, you can learn more about Tibetan culture, try some meditation and maybe take some yoga lessons, listen to the monks chanting prayers in the monastery, or watch their lively debates in the temple. Stroll to the beautiful waterfall in the hills above the city, or visit the Norbulingka Institute, an art academy for young Tibetans set in beautiful gardens. Hikes and alternative and holistic therapies are also offered here. McLeod Ganj is the place to stay for most travelers to India. It’s uphill from the busy center below. The Dalai Lama’s residence is nearby (His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama), so this is the center of the Tibetan government-in-exile. In the 1850s, McLeod was a British garrison and administration center for the colonial government.

Nilgiri hill stations– The Western Ghats – ooo – 2240m, Coonor – 1850m, Kotagiri – 1793m

Kotagiri is the oldest of the three Nilgiri hill stations and is quiet and simple. It’s a quiet contrast to the overdeveloped, more popular Ooty, so it’ll be a refreshing change from city life during your India tour.

When in Coonoor you should head to Upper Coonoor for some peace, quiet and tranquility as well as the best views. Central Coonoor itself is quite hectic and not that charming. Ooty is perhaps one of the most famous Indian hill stations in South India. As with Shimla, it was the British colonial seat of government in Madras (now Chennai). You can take the miniature train on a scenic drive up to Ooty and the woods and mountain views are lovely. Old Ooty was nicknamed ‘Snooty-Ooty’. Here travelers to India mingle with international students and honeymooners and parts of Ooty still look a lot like rural England.

Kodaikanal– Tamilnadu – 2100m

This hill station is a cool refuge from the heat of the plains in the state of Tamil Nadu. It is about 120 km from the bustling and colorful temple town of Madurai. It has a relaxed rhythm and is popular with Indian honeymooners. The high season in Kodai is from April to June and this is reflected in the high prices for accommodation. Indian tourists love row boats and pedal boats and take them to the lake here. Walks can be arranged and you need to hire a guide from the tourist office or youth hostel and of course as this is India you are likely to be approached by guides on the street. Or maybe just get up early and take the 5km loop around the lake when it’s quiet if you don’t feel like walking through the woods and mountains. Head to Coakers Walk for a great view of the valley and if you stay in the youth hostel the views from the lower rooms are good too. The valleys can accumulate fog that is very atmospheric but will sometimes make it difficult to see.

manali – Himachel Pradesh – 2050m

The modern city of Manali is built on an ancient site, but it does not have the colonial history, charm and attractive surroundings of Shimla or some of the other hill stations, but it does have a great reputation hanging from the scene of the years. 70’s and 80’s and west. hippie scene.

There is high quality marijuana growing in this region. This appeals to a certain type of traveler, but it is still illegal to smoke it in India. It is now more popular with Indian honeymooners and Western “hippie” travelers are now more likely to reside in neighboring towns like Vashisht or Dhungri. The nearby countryside is good for hiking and there are forests, orchards and ancient temples and the river Beas to explore. Old Manali is quieter and more charming, and is within walking distance of New Manali or just a short auto-rickshaw ride. Adventure travelers can find opportunities for rafting, paragliding, skiing, and trekking.

Munnar – The Western Ghats – 1524 m

The city of Munnar itself is not that beautiful to look at, but the reason for climbing this hill station is the sea of ​​emerald green tea plantations that surround the city. It is a real pleasure to walk through the green hills and enjoy the fresh air and tranquility of this region. Some of the tallest commercial tea plantations in the world are located in this area. Munnar was another British colonial retreat in days gone by.

Mussoorie – Uttarakhand – 2003m

This hill station is often referred to as the “Queen of Hill Stations” and was established by the British in 1823. In some parts colonial-era images persist, as they do in Shimla, in the form of ancient churches , hotels and summer places. palaces It can be very busy here in the summer months, but at other times of the year prices can drop dramatically and vacancies are easily found. There are excellent views of the Doon Valley and the distant snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas are visible on a clear day. As with Shimla, this hill station is easily accessible from Delhi, so it will be busy during holidays and festivals, something to keep in mind if you plan to schedule it into your trip to India.