Top 10 Hill Stations in India

India has fascinated millions of people from the various geographical locations of the world, to visit the country, where many religions were born and flourished. It is a land of varied diversity, where over a billion people speak more than 700 languages, sync together to prosper as a nation. There are numerous tourist destinations in the country.

Shimla, Himachal Pardesh

 

Image Source: Shimla Covered with White Snow

Shimla is the capital of the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, in the Himalayan foothills. Once the summer capital of British India, it remains the terminus of the narrow-gauge Kalka-Shimla Railway, completed in 1903. It’s also known for the handicraft shops that line The Mall, a pedestrian avenue, as well as the Lakkar Bazaar, a market specializing in wooden toys and crafts.

Darjeeling, West Bengal

 

Image Source: Beautiful Valleys of Darjeeling

Darjeeling is a town in India's West Bengal state, in the Himalayan foothills. Once a summer resort for the British Raj elite, it remains the terminus of the narrow-gauge Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, or “Toy Train,” completed in 1881. It's famed for the distinctive black tea grown on plantations that dot its surrounding slopes. Its backdrop is Mt. Kanchenjunga, among the world’s highest peaks.

Shillong, Meghalaya

 

Image Source: Shillong, Meghalaya

Shillong is the capital and hill station of Meghalaya, also known as "The Abode of Clouds", one of the smallest states in India.

Source: Wikipedia

Ooty, Tamil Nadu

 

Image Source: Tea Gardens of Ooty

Established as a summer retreat by the British and nicknamed ‘Snooty Ooty',Ooty is a visual delight filled with pretty cottages, fenced flower gardens, thatched-roof churches and terraced botanical gardens. Venture a few kilometres out and you'll find yourself surrounded by greener, quieter areas dotted with an abundance of pine trees.

[Check out these hill stations near Bangalore]

Coonoor, Tamil Nadu

 

Image Source: Coonoor

Coonoor is is the second largest hill station in the Nilgiri hills after Ooty. It is an ideal base for a number of trekking expeditions leading into the Nilgiris. It is known for its production of Nilgiri tea.

Manali, Himachal Pradesh

Image Source: Skiing in Manali

Manali is a high-altitude Himalayan resort town in India’s northern Himachal Pradesh state. It has a reputation as a backpacking center and honeymoon destination. Set on the Beas River, it’s a gateway for skiing in the Solang Valley and trekking in Parvati Valley. It's also a jumping-off point for paragliding, rafting and mountaineering in the Pir Panjal mountains, home to 4,000m-high Rohtang Pass.

Munnar, Kerala

Image Source: Munnar, Kerala

Munnar is a town in the Western Ghats mountains in India’s Kerala state. Munnar, a hill station and former resort for the British Raj elite, is set within rolling hills dotted with tea plantations established in the 19th century. Eravikulam National Park, home to the endangered mountain goat Nilgiri tahr, is a seasonal trekking destination encompassing the Lakkam Waterfalls and 2,695m-tall Anamudi Peak.

Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir

Image Source: Boating in Srinagar

Srinagar is the largest city of the Kashmir Valley and the summer capital of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. It lies on the banks of the Jhelum River,The city is famous for its gardens, waterfronts and houseboats. It is also known for traditional Kashmiri handicrafts and dried fruits.

 Nainital, Uttarakhand

 

Image Source: Nainital

Nainital is a Himalayan resort town in the Kumaon region of India’s Uttarakhand state, at an elevation of roughly 2,000m. Formerly a British hill station, it’s set around Nainital Lake, a popular boating site with Naina Devi Hindu Temple on its north shore. There’s shopping in Bara Bazaar, and hiking trails with mountain views crisscross the surrounding area’s wooded hills.

Mussoorie, Uttarakhand

Image Source: Kempty Fall, Mussorie

Mussoorie is a hill stationsituated in the foothills of the Garhwal Himalayan ranges, is also known as the Queen of the Hills. The town was once said to present a 'fairyland' atmosphere to tourists. Offering stunning views of the green Doon Valley and the distant white-capped Himalayan peaks, You can walk up and down the famous Mall road, or sit and admire the mist-covered hills from Mussoorie’s highest point called Lal Tibba.