Top 10 Hill Stations in India

Top 10 Hill Stations in India

India is a favorite tourist spot and has picturesque hill stations. It is a perfect tourist destination when it comes to natural beauty. These misty, mystical and serene hill stations in India are a perfect holiday option and are found in most parts of the country. Most of the hill stations or resorts of India are situated at heights ranging from 600 m above the sea level to 3500 m above the sea level.

These Hill stations are popular with both Indian and foreign tourists and offer a relaxing and wholesome break from the heat and dust of the cities. To make these hill stations a luxury trip for tourists, there are various hotels and resorts to cater to their lodging requirements. Indian Hill Resorts offers world-class accommodation facilities to the travelers at the most reasonable rates and invite them to enjoy a relaxing holiday in the hill stations of India.

These hill stations act as travel guides to the world of peace and serenity. Here one can walk across the fields of wildflowers and see the blooming apple orchards, witness the rushing streams cascade down the mountainside, and watch the serenity of the snow-capped Himalayas in the distance. Go mountaineering, camping, trekking, and paragliding in these hill stations of India and have a holiday of a lifetime. Some of the popular hill-stations in India are Gangtok, Darjeeling, Dharamshala, Dehradun, Auli, Kasauli, Kashmir, Khandala, Mahabaleshwar, Mount Abu, Munnar, Kodaikanal, Dalhousie, Kullu, Lonavala, Manali, Coorg, Coonoor, Khajjiar, Mussoorie, Nainital, Ooty, Shimla, and Srinagar.

This guide lists 10 of the most popular ones.

1. Srinagar, Kashmir

Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, delights visitors with its lovely lakes and relaxing houseboats. In fact, lakes and gardens are in such abundance there that Srinagar is often referred to as the “Land of Lakes and Gardens”. The gardens have a distinctly Mughal influence, as many of them were cultivated by Mughal emperors.
Asia’s largest tulip garden in Srinagar and Tulip festival is held every year in April.

2. Manali

It is a retreat in Himachal Pradesh, well known for its bewitching beauty and numerous adrenaline pumping activities. From Heli-Skiing to the Temples, it has a varied diversity of everything. Manali is also renowned as the “Prime Honeymoon destination”, of India. Last but not the least, it the starting point of the most fascinating and enthralling highways in India – The Leh-Manali Highway.

3. Nainital

Based in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand surrounding the volcanic lake Nani, Nainital is adored by millions and is often referred as the ‘Lake District’ of India. It is a destination for all, whether you are looking for a perfect family outing or a romantic getaway. It is well connected by the major cities and offers a lot to rejuvenate your body and soul. Nainital Mountaineering Club; the name is enough to cheer the adrenaline seekers. With the variety of trek and the picturesque locations, Nainital is surely a must visit Hill Station.

4. Mussoorie

Mussoorie is a hill station and a municipal board in the Dehradun District of the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand. It is located about 35 km from the state capital of Dehradun and 290 km north from the national capital of New Delhi. Mussoorie perched in Uttarakhand is famed as the “Queen of Hills”. It is an extremely beautiful hill station to explore.

5. Shimla

The once summer capital of the British, now the capital of Himachal Pradesh, is surely a delight for the eyes. With its spectacular vista, Shimla is a region that is highly appreciated for its ethnic culture and eternal beauty. “Nati”, a local form of dance could be seen performed by the ever-friendly jubilant locals. Shimla is also an architectural paradise, flaunting many splendid colonial architecture buildings.

6. Ooty

Ooty or Ootacamund is the capital of the Nilgiris. It is famous for the picturesque picnic spots, but; still, the chief attraction remains the mile-long tea gardens. Whether you are a kid or an adult, nobody skips the Nilgiri Toy Train ride. It takes you along the picturesque topography of the Nilgiris.

7. Munnar

Munnar, located in Kerala, is one place known for its well-preserved natural beauty of the virgin forests. The environment and climate of Munnar are very salubrious that compels you to just chill and relax. There are waterfalls, coffee gardens and scenic valleys where you can stroll and have the ultimate time of your life.

8. Mount Abu

Apart from being the only hill station in Rajasthan, it is also the summer capital of the state. Mount Abu is renowned worldwide for the Dilwara Jain Temples. It offers many breathtaking sunsets points, from where you could cement the bond of love with your loved ones. Being close to Gujarat, it offers a good variety of Rajasthani and Gujarati handlooms, textiles, artifacts and the list goes on.

9. Dharamshala

Along with being one of the most favorite places for tourists, Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh is home to the holy Dalai Lama. Fringed by the lofty mountains and dotted by Deodar and Cedar forests, this beautiful hill station in India is amongst the most popular hill stations in the country. Dharamshala is situated at an altitude of about 1487m in the Kangra Valley of Himachal Pradesh.

10. Darjeeling

Darjeeling is also known as the dreamland of the east. Its natural beauty is enough to lure a tourist and keep him captivated all his or her life. The hill station has many exotic waterfalls, hills blossoming with flowers of every shade, and the tea gardens. The Darjeeling Tea is one of the most popular teas in the world.

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Simmi Kamboj

Simmi Kamboj is the Founder and Administrator of Ritiriwaz, your one-stop guide to Indian Culture and Tradition. She had a passion for writing about India's lifestyle, culture, tradition, travel, and is trying to cover all Indian Cultural aspects of Daily Life.