Hill Stations In India You Must Visit

The hill station of Nainital offers several places of interest to the tourists. The natural beauty and the charm of this beautiful hill station make it a popular tourist destination. The most popular landmark in Nainital is the Naini Lake . This lake offers enchanting beauty and tourists can enjoy boat rides on the lake. Nainital Boat Club also offers yachting facilities at the Lake.

Ooty also known as Udhagamandalam is the "Queen of hill stations" and the capital of Nilgiris district. It is one of the most popular tourist resorts in India. Nilgiris means "Blue Mountains". It is a land of picturesque picnic spots. Used to be popular summer and weekend getaway for the Britishers during the colonial days. It is situated at an altitude of 2,240 meters above sea level. An added attraction for the tourists to Udagamandalam is the mountain train journey on a ratchet and pinion track which commences from Kallar, near Mettupalayam and wends its way through many hair-raising curves and fearful tunnels and chugs along beside deep ravines full of verdant vegetation, gurgling streams and tea gardens.

Darjeeling , also known as the 'Dream-land of the East', famous for its natural beauty, clean fresh air, year round plesent weather and above all, tea estates and the famous Darjeeling Tea. Darjeeling gets its name from Dorje (Thunderbolt) and Ling (Place). One of the most popular hillstations of India, Darjeeling is strategically very important due to its proximity with Nepal and Bhutan borders.

Shimla is a beautiful Hill station in the lap of Himachal Pradesh and is also its capital. It is located at an altitude of 2213 m. Shimla derives its name from goddess 'Shayamla Devi' , another form of Goddess Kali. Shimla has been blessed with natural beauty and is surrounded by green pastures and snow-capped peaks. Its green valleys, the beauty of its trees, pine, oak and deodar and its beautiful weather attract the tourists throughout the year. The spectacular cool hills accompanied by the structures made during the colonial era create an atmosphere, which has given Shimla Hill Station the title of " Queen of Hills ". Though Shimla has a regular flow of tourists throughout the year, maximum tourists come in May and October. In December, tourists flock to Shimla to enjoy the pleasant snowfall.

Manali derived its name from Manavalaya meaning the abode of Manu or "Home of Manu" and here, the temples are treated as pilgrimages. Its cool atmosphere provides a perfect haven for the ones afflicted by the hot Indian summers. Manali is also famous for adventure sports like skiing, hiking, mountaineering, para gliding, rafting, trekking, kayaking, and mountain biking. Manali is quite famous for its lush green forests of deodar and snow capped mountains.

Located in the foothills of the Himalayas, Mussoorie gets its name from the Mansur shrub that is commonly seen in here. Mussoorie Popular as Queen of the Hills, is at an altitude of 2000m and 34 km beyond Dehradun. Mussoorie is a popular destination for tourist throughout the year with its green hills, varied flora & fauna & Infrastructure enough to accommodate hordes of tourists jostling for it to escape the heat of the plains.

Almora is one of the most popular hill stations of Uttaranchal and is in a shape of a horseshoe. It is one of the five districts in the newly carved state of the Uttaranchal and is situated at the height of 1,638 meters. It is also known, as the cultural capital of Kumaon. It is surrounded by four hill ranges, each having temples on top of its peak. These temples are of goddesses Banari Devi, Kasar Devi, Sayahi Devi and the temple of Sun god. Known for its scenic beauty, here you can conveniently enjoy the snow-clad peaks of Himalayas together with beautiful blue and green ridges. It offers breathtaking views that ensnare many tourists and makes this hill station one of the most beautiful hill stations in North India.

The hill station is Ranikhet, literally meaning - Queens Land, is an all season tourist-spot for the admirers of the natural beauty. Ranikhet is a place that reflects the best of the great Himalayas. The charming and majestic views of the pine trees, lush green forests, delicate plant life and attractive wild life, the scented mountain breeze, the fresh and pure, the singing of birds, the panoramic view of the Himalayas sight, all adds to the heavenly and pure feeling of Ranikhet.

Shillong is a beautiful hill station & the capital of Meghalaya located at the height of 1496 meters. It is also called ‘ Scotland of the East ' due to its striking similarity with the Scottish highlands. The city derives its name from "Leishyllong"-the Superpower or God who is believed to reside on the Shillong peak, overlooking the city.

Mirik, the hill resort lies in the West Bengal state of India. It is situated fifty-two km away from Siliguri and 55 kms from the nearest Airfield of Bagdogra. It stands at an altitude of 1,768m in the Eastern Himalayas. Mirik is wrapped in the forested hills of the Himalayas. Mirik is surrounded by tea estates, orange orchards and cardamom plantations. The natural beauty of this beautiful hill resort has a rejuvenating effect on the tired urban soul. All the wild flowers, enchanting lakes and flourishing forests of Cryptomaria Japanica trees make Mirik a paradise on earth, and the Kachunjanga as a backdrop adds immense beauty to the whole scenery.

Lonavala or Lonavla and the adjacent Khandala are beautiful, charming and twin hill stations, 622 m. above sea level and 5 Kms a part from each other are situated in the Sahyadri ranges. They are located around 64 km away from the city of Pune and 96 km away from the city Mumbai, popular getaway from Mumbai and Pune. Lonavala is also known as the 'Jewel of the Sahyadri' is situated in the western part of Maharashtra.

At 1,372 meters above sea level, around Lake Venna, is the highest hill station in the Western Ghats of Maharashtra. Mahabaleshwar is one of the most spectacular and the largest of Maharashtra hill-stations. Mahabaleshwar in Sanskrit means God of Great Power. It was summer capital of Governor of the old Bombay Presidency The Britishers built various mansions, cottages and bungalows around the town, lending it a charming, sophistication. There are 30 valley viewpoints with panoramic vistas scattered around the hill station and their access roads make for shady, pleasant walks and treks.

Your toy train chugs along slowly without a care in the world. During the two hour ascent, food vendors and monkeys jump on and off as the valley glides by sedately.
Sprawling languidly at an altitude of 800 metres is Matheran - an undulating hilltop cloaked in green. The cliffs of Matheran with incredibly steep drops to the plains below offer stunning viewing points. These panoramic vistas, by day and night, leave you feeling light headed. Standing at Hart Point in pitch darkness you get a breathtaking glimpse of the lights of busy Bombay. Matheran abounds in such quixotically named points. popular sites for picnics and fireside revelry.

The picturesque beauty of this hill station is enchanting and attracts tourists throughout the year. Walk on the lush green paths, with view of River Krishna snaking through beautiful valleys and gentle hills of Panchgani is truly a nature lover's delight. There are many places in Panchgani that are a must see. One of the most famous places in Panchgani is its Table Land . Situated around 60 mts high, Table Land is a flat stretch of laterite rock and is the second longest mountain plateau in Asia. Many large caves are seen from here, the most popular one being the Devil's Kitchen . It is believed that the Pandavas stayed here for a while and used this place to cook their food.

Located at the southwestern end of the Aravalli hills at a height of 1220m, Mount Abu is the only hill station of the royal state Rajasthan.It is built arround a lake and surrounded by hills and is the most popular summer resort. Its cool climate, lovely lakes, and breathtaking beautiful Jain temples attracts tourists on a large scale.
The lushness of Mount Abu makes the hill resort being referred to as the paradise of Rajasthan.

Munnar, literally meaning three rivers in Tamil, is one of the most popular hill stations in India and is situated at the merging point of three mountain streams - Mudrapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala . It lies in the God's own country Kerala. At an altitude of 1524 meters, it is just 136 kms from Cochin. Its highest peak is Anamudi at 2695 meters and is an ideal trekking desination.
It is famous for its lush green surroundings, winding lanes, lakes, waterfalls, streams, reservoirs, forests and tea plantations. The quiet surroundings of Munnar attract travelers and tourists from all parts of the world. The low-flying clouds and mist filled valleys offer spectacular views to the tourists. Among the exotic flora that is found in the forests and grasslands of Munnar is the famous Neela Kurinji flower, which blooms once in every twelve years.

The journey to this place on the Ghat road with thick forests on either side is in itself interesting and pleasant. One can have a wonderful trekking trip. 46 tunnels and bridges will greet you on the way. The Ananthagiri hills on the way to Araku Valley are famous for coffee plantations. Borra Caves located 29-km from Araku Valley, are one of the famous nearby tourist attraction.

Karnataka in South India is a beautiful hill resort. 252 kms from Bangalore and 1525 m above sea level lies Coorg, the district headquarters of Kodagu. Coorg or Kodagu(originally called Kodaimalenadu) means 'dense forest on steep hill'. It is beautiful hill country most of which is between 3000 and 4000 feet high. The tallest mountain peak is around 6000 feet high. Also known as Kodagu, Coorg is famous for coffee plantations. The coffee estates here produce some of the world's best coffee.

Idukki is a significant tourist destination in the map of Kerala. The hill station is immensely appealing for travelers seeking an escape to the mist layered mountains. Situated on the panoramic heights of the Western Ghats, the district is surrounded by mountains.

Kodaikanal located amidst the folds of the verdant Pali hills is one of the most popular serene hill stations in India, which mesmerises any visitor. With her wooded slopes, mighty rocks, enhancing waterfalls and a beautiful lake, a tour of Kodaikanal India is full of fun and leaisur holidays.

Around 60 km away from the city of Bangalore in the Chikkaballapur? district exist this famous ancient hill fortress called Nandi Hills, also known as Nandydroog or Nandidrug. Chikkaballapur town is 10 km away, while other towns in the vicinity are Kanivenarayanapura, Nandi and Muddenahalli. River Arkavathi originates from the Nandi hills.

The capital of Jammu and Kashmir and the largest city in the state, Srinagar (1,730m) is famous for its canals, houseboats and Mughal gardens. The city itself is quite unlike most other large Indian cities for here you are much more in Central Asia than on the sub continent. It's a city full of intriguing alleyways and curious buildings. It is a tourist place where it's very easy to spend a few hours simply wandering - particularly along the old city streets near the Jhelum river.

Peermade is a small hill town that is located in the state of Kerala in the Idukki district. It is a popular tourist town in the state and there are many attractive sites that are available here. The tourist places include spectacular plantations, pine trees, waterfalls, open grass lands and pine forests and other sites. Peermade is also known as Plantation Town Of Kerala. This beautiful hill station is located at the height of 915 meters above sea level.

Panhala situated at an altitude of 977.2m is a fascinating hill station with a rich historical heritage. Dotted with ancient fortifications and buildings that have witnessed the rise and fall of the Maratha Empire, Panhala is an enchanting place. Peaceful beyond imagination, free from pollution, and scenic enough to overwhelm your senses.

Gulmarg, a beautiful hill station that lies at a distance of 56 kilometers from Srinagar, Kashmir, is among the most favorite holiday destinations. The word "Gul" means flowers, and hence the name Gulmarg stands for "a meadow of flowers". This is an apt description for this hill station, as a trip to this land will transport one to a beautiful world of flowers. Flowers that bloom here include bluebells, daisies, forget-me-nots and buttercups. Gulmarg is located in the Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir at an altitude of 2730 meters above sea level. The snow-capped peaks add to the grandeur of the land.