Travel to
Hill Stations
of India
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India with its vast
land and diverse culture, heritage, language and people is also
showered with the natural beauty. The Himalayas, the world's largest
mountain chain, stretches for about 2560 kms. in an arc across the
top of the Indian subcontinent. It is in these ranges that some of
the most popular hill stations of India like Shimla, Mussoorie,
Nainital and Darjeeling are located. Some of the famous hill
stations in India are as follows:-
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Almora |
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.
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Darjeeling |
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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.
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Gangtok |
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.
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Gulmarg |
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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.
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Kodaikkanal |
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.
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Ladakh |
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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.
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Lonavala - Khandala |
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.
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Mahabaleshwar |
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.
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Manali |
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.
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Mount Abu |
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 India 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.
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Munnar |
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.
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Mussoorie |
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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.
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Nainital |
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.
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Ooty |
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.
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Panchgani |
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.
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Shimla |
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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.
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Srinagar |
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.
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