India has a lot to offer and the hill stations are proof that the country has diversity not only in cultures but also in the land. That is why India is also known as Land of Diversity. And you would happily agree with us once you see them with your own eyes. Be it the lakes, the gardens, or the cities as a whole, hill stations in India has got it all that would make your holiday worthwhile!
Be the hills stations in South India or Noth India, one will always feel like returning over and over again. You cannot give a miss to the rolling green carpet of grass and trees, which are dotted with lush greens across, create a scene to remember and cherish. Also, the scent of those dewy flowers, misty air and the solitude all blend perfectly with the cool soothing atmosphere of the hills. So without explaining it more, let’s take a look at what all hill stations in India hold in for you, with this post.
1. Srinagar, Kashmir
Srinagar is the capital of Jammu and Kashmir, which delights visitors with its lovely lakes and awe-inspiring houseboats, which are the top-notch attractions here. It has many lakes and gardens, surrounded and it is often referred to as the “Land of Lakes and Gardens”.
You can experience the Mughal influence in many of the gardens, as many of them were cultivated by Mughal emperors. You can find Asia’s largest tulip garden in Srinagar, with a tulip festival, which is held every April.
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2. Manali, Himachal Pradesh
It is the most beautiful destination, with a soothing backdrop of the Himalayas. Indeed it is the tranquillity, which you can experience and get you a blend of adventure and immense serenity.
If trekking is something you love, then Manali is the best destination to be explored. It is situated in the Kullu Valley of Himachal Pradesh and further bordered by cool pine forest and the raging Beas River, which gives it a special energy and positive vibes to be experienced.
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3. Nainital, Uttarakhand
Situated amidst the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand, Nainital is one of the popular summer retreats for travellers. It has the serene Naini Lake, coupled with the action-filled street called The Mall Road, which has a line of restaurants, shops, hotels, and markets.
You can chill around many forest walks, explore the surrounding area on horseback, or relax on a boat while in the middle of the lake.
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4. Mussoorie, Uttarakhand
It is about 35km from the state capital- Dehradun in Uttarakhand. It is one of the popular weekend destinations for north Indians. And also, the favourite destination for the travellers, honeymooners and college students, who love to come down here to enjoy the bliss of nature.
You can enjoy cable car to Gun Hill, a beautiful nature walk along Camel’s Back Road, relish the picnic at Kempty Falls, or take a horse ride up to Lal Tibba.
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5. Shimla, Himachal Pradesh
Surprisingly, Shimla used to be the summer capital of the British Empire, but today it is the state capital of Himachal Pradesh. Today, you can find a flock of tourist coming here in summer and winter season both. You can find historical buildings, an ancient temple on Shimla’s highest peak dedicated to Hindu Deity Hanuman i.e. Jakhoo Temple.
Enjoy a ride in the famous toy train, and cherish the beauty of great attraction of the old Christ Church, having beautiful stained glass windows, etc.
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6. Munnar, Kerala
Are you a tea aficionado? Then Munnar, in Kerala, is the must-visit place for you. Its surrounded region is famous for extensive tea plantations. The Kundala Tea Plantations, has a picturesque lake, can provide the best opportunity to see the tea being picked and processed to drink fresh tea straight from the gardens.
Yes, this is what you will get to see here, as this area is blessed with the natural beauty of winding lanes, misty hills, and forests full of exotic plants and wildlife. You can visit and trek to Anamudi, which is the highest peak in south India, explore Eravikulam National Park, or try rock climbing.
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7. Ooty, Tamil Nadu
This very city was established in the early 19th century by the Britishers as the summer headquarters of the Chennai government. And today Ooty is one of the very popular places to escape the summer heat in Tamil Nadu.
You can expect it to be crowded, during the peak season in April and May. The 22-hectare Government Botanical Gardens, boating on Ooty Lake, and climbing Dodabetta Peak are some of the musts to visit places in Ooty.
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8. Darjeeling, West Bengal
The lush tea gardens are the best attractions to be seen in Darjeeling. Also, the most stunning view of Mount Kanchenjunga makes it a spectacular viewpoint to be seen.
It has the most popular attractions including a historic toy train, monasteries, botanical gardens, a zoo, and the Darjeeling-Rangeet Valley Passenger Ropeway. Darjeeling is a great place to roam around and unleash the incredible tea estates, villages, and markets. Although, don’t visit this very city, during the monsoon season.
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9. Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu
This very place is about 120 kilometres from Madurai in the Palani Hills of Tamil Nadu. The name stands for “Gift of the Forest”. And you can see different varieties of flora and fauna, including orchards of pear trees and charming buildings, which would greet you, once you will enter the town.
Also, you can see the annual horticultural show at the landscaped botanical Bryant Park in May. It is a great destination to enjoy a picnic beside, boating on the lake, and loads of walking trails. If your interest lies in herbs and aromatherapy oils, then you can buy many oils from here.
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10. Gangtok, Sikkim
It is Sikkim’s capital and is situated along the cloudy mountain ridge about 5,500 feet above sea level. It is a small independent Buddhist kingdom, which has its own monarchy.
Today, Gangtok has become the popular base for travelling and trekkers love to explore here. You can find it a very well-organized and clean city with strict littering, traffic and tobacco laws. It has so many attractions including monasteries, viewpoints, a cable car, and a zoo.
Last but not least, the beautiful Hill stations are mostly set up in India by the British, as they used to get the respite from the heat and humidity of the country. But these very hill stations, today have now transformed into popular vacationing spots where travellers from within as well as outside the country come and enjoy the bliss of nature.
Hill stations have much to offer, whether it is to find the top 10 places to visit in Darjeeling, or the top 10 scenic views to be explored in Ooty, you can get the most out of the hill station, and get a chance to escape the summer heat of the plains. Plan a trip to one of these hill stations for a truly memorable vacation and beat the heat in a most mesmerizing manner. Keep hooked to my blog space and make the most of it.
And winter turns out to be something irresistible when it comes to be in India, wherein every place has a great history, tradition, culture and exoticness around it.
Let’s take a quick tour of next top 10 hill stations in India which cannot hold their charm to themselves especially during winter season.
1. Dharamshala
If you are willing to visit a picturesque and best hill station in world, then visiting Dharamshala is no doubt a great escape during the winter season. It is a beautiful fusion of Indo-Tibetans culture and is often called internationally as “The Little Lhasa in India”. Here His Holiness The Dalai Lama lives.
You can find the beautiful merge of cultures and traditions in Kotwali Bazar, and McLeod Ganj, and enjoy the Tibetan handicrafts. Also, the Namgyal Monastery is one of the major tourist attractions in Dharamshala and some others are Kangra Art Museum, War Memorial, Kunal Pathri Temple, St. John’s Church, Aganjar Mahadev Temple, and Kangra Chamunda Devi Temple.
2. Kodaikanal
It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in India and one of the popular most hill stations in India for honeymoon, not just in winters but in summers too, though the exotic view it gives in the winter season is something beyond expressions.
Nature is at its peak here while giving the layers of wonderful climate, cliffs covered in mist, cloud-capped mountains and beautiful lakes and valleys. This hillstation is situated between the Palani Hills in Tamil Nadu, and it is situated at an altitude of 7200 feet above sea level.
It is called as the Princess of Hill Stations, and lets you relish the mélange of culture and nature and feel enlightened. You can go there and sit for longer hours. You may visit Green Valley View (Suicide Point), Kodai lake, Bear shola falls, pillar rocks, devil’s kitchen and coakers walk.
3. Jalori Pass
Undeniably, this place is the heaven on the earth, and has the rich history also behind it. It is situated in the highlands, the Jalori Pass, has a famous place to visit and that is ‘Budhi Naagin’.
This temple is an important place to visit while at the Jalori Pass, it is believed that the Goddess ‘Budhi Naagin’, the Mother of Snakes, lives in the Serolsar Lake and has two birds as companions in the vicinity, who jointly protect the lake, keeping it clean and pure. Moreover, it is also believed that the Pandavas visited this place during their exile.
Further this place is largely been covered in many Bollywood movies.
4. Patnitop, Jammu & Kashmir
It is the one of the best hill stations in southern India. You can find the beauty of nature in Patnitop, which gives the endless meadows and panoramic views of the snow capped peaks of the Himalayas. If you aim to capture the nature at its best, then you muct come here, because this place is known as photographers’ paradise.
Along with the widespread abundance in sceneries, you can vist Nathatop, Paragliding in Patnitop, Skiing in Patnitop, Naag Mandir, Billoo ki Powri and Kud Park.
Also you can enjoy paragliding base, golf courses along with extended sightseeing options here.
5. Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh
Calling it a holistic bliss for the people who are looking forward to rejuvenation is not at all wrong. Its awe-struck beauty becomes more prominent during the winter season, where the atmosphere gets cuddled up with a thick forest of pine, oak, and chestnut trees.
The ‘Monkey Point’ is one of the must-visit places in Kasauli, along with the religious places like Baba Balak Nath Temple, Sai Baba Mandir, and St. Patrick’s Catholic Church.
6. Spiti, Himachal Pradesh
The word Spiti means ‘The Middle Land’, since Spiti Valley separates India from Tibet. For the adventure seekers this place is nothing less than a paradise, which offers a number of trekking trails that can be picked by the tourists.
You must visit Kaza- spiti valley capital and enjoy the long winding roads and valleys, which offer the beautiful and captivating views of snow-crowned mountains everywhere. It is covered on all sides by the Himalayas, and is situated at the altitude of 12,500 feet above sea level.
The surprising fact here suggests that only for 250 days sunshine comes here, that makes Spiti the one of the coldest places in the country. The tourist attraction here includes: Chandratal Lake, Key Monastery, Kunzum Pass, Pin Valley National Park, Suraj Tal and Dhankar Monastery.
7. Kufri
It would be wrong if I will not mention a word for kufri. It has the rich fusion of age-old history with a variety of cultural essence filled within it.
You can find the strong whiff of Indian history, in The Himalayan Nature Park. Bear, Kufri Fun World, Mahasu Peak, and Indira Tourist Park.
8. Dalhousie
This place is named after the 19th century British Governor-General Lord Dalhousie. This place has some of the most beautiful churches of North India, including St. Patrick’s Church, St. Francis Church, and St. Andrew’s Church, which have the rich architectural work of their own with stone carvings, glass, and wooden structures.
Also, the snowfall in Dalhousie during the winter season is a major attraction and lets you enjoy the panorama of the breathtaking countryside from Panchpula, Bakrota Hills and Dainkund.
9. Kasol
If you are planning to visit a less-crowded destination, then Kasol in Himachal Pradesh should be your prime priority. As this place turns out to be a quiet weekend getaway because it is situated on the bank of River Parvati with patches of small villages in the midst of dense pinewood.
Also, the strenuous treks in Himachal Pradesh is a good option for an adventure trip during the winter. To experience the Himachali culture, you can visit the nearby Tosh village, and enjoy the fishing of Trout fishes.
10. Khajjar
You get to see the ‘mini-Switzerland of India’, in Khajjiar, which is a small town near Dalhousie, but provides a unique medley of forests, lakes and pastures.
It goes without saying but the captivating beauty of this place has greatly influenced and inspired many nations throughout the years.
It is located at an altitude of 6,500 feet, and has immense dose of natural beauty and picturesque landscape of this place. The another reason for the popularity in this place goes to nine-hole golf-course which is situated within the lush greenery and a breathtaking landscape.
There are many options for the adventure seekers and they can try adventure sports like paragliding, horse riding, zorbing, trekking etc. You must visit Khajjiar lake, Kalatop wildlife sanctuary, Khajjiar trek and Golden Devi temple.
