Hill Stations in India – Explore the Mountains, Nature and Scenic Landscapes of India

The small town of Almora is perched on a hillock at an altitude of 1650 meters above sea level. Almora looks like a 5 km. long horse-shoe shaped ridge, where the Sitoli forms the front arm and the bazaar the other arm. In the 16th century the capital of the Chand rulers was shifted from Champawat to Almora. Almora is the district headquarters. Almora is one of the rare places in the hills where short distances take hours to cover because of twisty, winding hill roads which allows you to visit many places from one central point. The Sun Temple, about 17 km from Almora, is one of the most famous temple in Almora. The other tourist attractions in Almora are Almora Fort, Brighton End Corner, Nanda Devi Temple, Kalimath and Simtola.   More....

Darjeeling is the famous hill station in West Bengal. Darjeeling, formerly known as Darjiling is also known as the place of thunderbolt or Dorja, the mystical. Darjeeling is situated at an altitude of 2134 m above sea level. The scenic beauty of Mount Everest and Kanchenjunga, the two highest peaks of the Himalayas, is something never to be forgotten. The best season to visit Darjeeling is from October to December and April to June. The tourist attractions in Darjeeling are the Tiger Hill, Ghoom Monastery, Observatory hill, Tibetan Refugee Self-Help Centre and Himalayan Mountaineering Institute.  More....

Gangtok is a cosmopolitan and capital city of Sikkim. Gangtok at 1574 m was built along a ridge to one side of the Ranipool river, looking towards the Kanchenjunga range, in the East District. Gangtok has undergone rapid modernization in the last two decades and contains all modern facilities. The mountain peaks, holy lakes, ancient monasteries, orchid nurseries and stunning trekking routes have made Gangtok a famous holiday and tourist destination. There are various places of sightseeing in Gangtok like Research Institute of Tibetology, Phurba Chorten, Ridge, Ganesh Tok, Tashi View Point, Changu Lake, Menmecho Lake and Yumthang Hot Springs.

Gulmarg, the hill resort is located only 52 km. to the south west of Srinagar in the Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir. Gulmarg literally means the
meadow of flowers. Gulmarg attracts various tourists due to its natural
beauty. Gulmarg is also the Asia's only heli-skiing resort. The immense
beauty and various adventure activities makes Gulmarg much more than a
cool hill resort. The winter months from November to February are ideal for
skiing. The months from May to September are pleasant to visit the place.
Gulmarg is dotted with various places like Khilanmarg, Alpather Lake,
 Wular Lake and Manasbal Lake.  More...

Kodaikkanal, a popular hill resort is situated about 120 kms from Madurai. This quiet hill station is situated at an altitude of 2133 metres on the southern tip of upper Palani hills in the Western Ghats. This town nestles around the man-made Kodai Lake. Kodaikkanal has thickly wooded slopes, well laid out walking paths through picturesque prospects, waterfalls and steep rock outcrops. The Kurinji, which blossoms once in 12 years is the unique plant of Kodai, and fill the hill slopes with the blaze of purple. The speciality of Kodaikkanal is the delicious home-made chocolate which are available in many shops in the town. The Kodai Lake, Solar Physical Observatory, Bryant Park and Coaker's Walk are the main tourist attractions in Kodaikkanal.  More....

Ladakh is the highest inhabited region of India and the River Indus with its tributaries flows through the ranges. Ladakh is a separate province of the State of Jammu and Kashmir and distinct in its culture and topography. It is a region which was opened to tourists only a few years ago. Since then, foreign tourists are traveling to Ladakh to see its unspoiled beauty. Only adventure lovers are recommended to visit Ladakh. The region is predominantly Buddhist and several important Buddhist monasteries dominate the region like Lamayuru, Alchi, Hemis, Phyang, Shey, Spituk, Stok and Thiksey monastery.  The clean, dry air, magnificent scenery and the warm hospitality of the happy people makes Ladakh truly memorable. More....

Lonavala is a charming hill resort in Maharashtra. It is situated along the Mumbai-Pune highway. Lonavala has
 many beauty spots like Lonavala Lake, Bhushi Dam, Tiger’s Leap, Ryewood Park, Tungarli Dam, Barometer
 Hill. the best time to visit this place is between October and May. Khandala, the popular nearby hill resort is
 well known for the famous ‘Lonavala’ Chikki. Both Lovala and Khandala offer breathtaking views of the
cascading waterfalls during the monsoon and the surrounding mountains of the plains spread out into the
horizon far below.

Mahabaleshwar is the most popular and largest hill resort in Maharashtra. It is situated at an altitude of 1372
meters above sea level. Mahabaleswar in Sanskrit means the God of Great Power. Mahabaleshwar derives its
 name from a deity, who is worshipped at the old Mahabaleshwar temple. This hill station is very crowded by
tourists during summers and Christmas and Diwali break. Mahabaleshwar has a pleasant climate throughout the
 year. The main tourist attractions in Mahabaleshwar are Mount Malcolm, Catholic Church, Mahabaleshwar
 Club, Morarji Castle, Pratapgad fort, Lodwick Point, Mahabaleshwar Temple and Lingmala waterfall.  More....

Manali is an ancient town and the famous hill station located in the Kullu valley. Manali literally means the home of Manu. Due to its altitude, the climate of Manali is loved by one and all. The best time to visit Manali is in the month of May and October. Today, Manali is a flourishing orchard industry, trekking destination and a famous tourist destination for the honeymoon lovers. The major tourist attraction in Manali is the Hidimba Devi Temple. Another attraction in Manali is the Vashisth Village. This village is known for the sweeping valley views and the Sulphur hot water springs.  More....

Mount Abu is the only hill station in Rajasthan which nestles at the height of 3500 feet on the highest peak
of the Aravalis. At the heart of the town is Nakki Lake. Around it's expanse are the hills, somewhat dry in
summer and lush green in the rains. The best time to visit Mount Abu is from May to October. There are
 various delightful spots in Mount Abu. The Nakki lake is a picturesquely lake set amidst hills and is believed to
have been carved out by the gods with their nails. It is a popular spot for boating and the only artificial lake in
ndia which is about 1200 meters above sea level. The surrounding hills have several areas of interest
like the spectacular Sunset Point, Toad’s Rock, and the beautifully sculpted hill temple of Gaumukh and
famous Dilwara Jain Temples.  More....

Munnar is the most famous holiday destination, in the Idukki district in Kerala. The high ranges of Munnar
were earlier known as Kanan Devan Hills, named after Kanan devan, who had been a landlord in the Anchanad
valley on the eastern side of the district. Munnar, the queen of hill stations is located at the confluence of
three mountain streams namely, Mudrapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala, along the western Ghats on the
eastern border of Kerala and was once the summer resort of the British government in South India.
Sprawling tea plantations, picture-book towns and winding lanes make this a popular resort. The various
tourist attractions in Munnar are the Anaimudi, Rajmalai, Eravikulam National Park and Chinnar Wildlife
Sanctuary.  More....

Mussoorie, also known as the Queen of the hills, is a famous hill station in Uttaranchal. It is situated at an altitude of 1970 meters above sea level and the perfect getaway from the summer heat of the plains. Mussoorie is a
popular tourist destination among the Indian tourists round the year.
There are winter showers and snowfall during December and January.
During the monsoon and winter months it is visited by people in search of
 some peace and quiet. Mussoorie is also best for walks like other hill
stations. The main tourist attraction in Mussoorie are the Mall, Landaur and Lal Tibba. The Mall is the main shopping area in Mussoorie.  More....

Nainital is a famous hill station and has a varied topography. Nainital is located at a height of 1938 meters in the Central Himalayas in the Kumaon region. There are various lakes in Nainital and as such it is also known as the Lake District of India. The main lake in Nainital is the Naini Lake and Nainital derives its name from this lake. The best time to visit Nainital is from April to May and October to November. Various tourists visit Nainital to explore its historical sites, wildlife reserve, fruit orchards, and the panoramic environment. The various tourist attractions in Nainital are the Naini Lake, Naina Peak, Snow View, High Altitude Zoo, Land's End and State Observatory. Some other famous places in Nainital are Haldwani, Kaladhungi, Ramnagar, Bhowali, Ramgarh, Mukteshwar, Bhimtal, Sattal and Naukuchiatal.  More....

Ooty was developed as a hill station by the British in the early part of the 19th century, in the Nilgiris or the
Blue Mountains. Ooty is also known as the queen of the blue mountains or Udhagamandalam (the Tamil
version of the original name) or Ootacamund. Ooty is situated in Nilgiri Mountains near trijunction of
Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala. This beautiful hill station lies at an altitude of 2200 feet above sea level.
Ooty was described as the queen of hill stations by the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. The major tourist attractions
in Ooty are the Ooty Lake, the famous Botanical Gardens and Dodabetta Peak.  More....

Panchgani is situated in the Satara district, just 19 kms. east of Mahabaleshwar in Maharashtra. Panchgani is also the most popular hill station. Panchgani derives its name from the fact that it is located at the centre of five
hills (“Panch” = five, “Gani” = hills). Panchgani is also known as the Mecca of Maharashtra due to various
boarding schools. Panchgani offers a splendid climate and magnificent scenery. There are various mysterious
valleys, numerous hamlets and sparkling rivers here. It is also well known for trekking and other adventure
activities. In Panchgani, the panoramic Table Land, Kamalgad Fort, berry farms and kiddies park can be visited.

Shimla, also known as the "Queen of the Hill stations" was the summer capital of British India before independence. Shimla is situated in the north west Himalayas
at a height of 7238 feet. Today, Shimla is the state capital of Himachal Pradesh.
Shimla derives its name from "Shyamala", the goddess Kali. The English
named it Shimla. This city is surrounded by thick pine forests, Himalayan oak,
flowering rhododendron and deodar trees. It has well-developed facilities and
numerous attractions and activities due to which it is the most popular destination.
The major tourist attractions in Shimla are Eller, Barnes Court or Raj Bhavan, the Cedars, Christ Church, Gaiety Theatre, Scandal Point, the Kali bari temple
and Jakhoo hill.  More....

Srinagar, the beautiful city was established by the Emperor Ashoka, about 2300 years ago when his daughter Charumati took a fancy to the Dal Lake during her visit to the region. The present city was founded in the sixty century by King Pravarsen. Srinagar is the most beautiful and popular hill station of Kashmir. Srinagar has been described by some Western visitors as the Venice of the East. Srinagar is snowbound and harsh in cold winter whereas it is very beautiful during spring and summers, when flowers bloom all over the valley, snow melts and trees take a new shape. The various tourist attractions in Srinagar are the Shankaracharya temple, Jama Masjid, Dal and Nagin Lake, Mughal Gardens - Nishat, Shalimar and Chahma Shahi and Hari Parbat.  More....