Best 10 Hill Stations in India
On my experience and study on hill stations in India, I described below some of the best hill stations In India . I hope this post will help you to plan your holiday if you are thinking about a hill station in India.If anything is lacking to completely describe ,please feel free to give comments on the particular topic then I will try to my best to give you the more information about the topic.
Shimla – Summer Capital of British India
What is so special about Shimla? Find out the place you can visit, how to reach Shimla, what is the best time to be in Shimla and other interesting stuff.
Places to Visit and the attraction there
Annandale : Picturesque piece of ground best suited for recreation
Chadwick Falls : 67 m high watery magnificence situated 7km from Shimla
Christ Church And St Michael’S Cathedral : 2nd oldest church and in north india
Gurkha Castles : Memoirs from the Gurkha regime and pretty popular with tourists.
Jakhu Temple : Temple of lord Hanuman atop the tallest hill of Shimla.
Tattapani : Hot sulfur springs on the banks of river Sutlej has religious and medical significance.
The Holme : Heritage Hotel
Viceregal Lodge : Magnificent building that was the home to British Viceroy Lord Dufferin
Chander Naun : Beautiful lake fed by a dozen springs. If are a seasoned trekker then dont miss it.
Himalayan Aviary : Habitat to many beautiful species birds including peacock, Monal
The seven hills of Shimla are – Prospect Hill in Western Shimla, which has the temple of Kamna Devi; Summer Hill in Western Shimla, which has the campus of the Himachal Pradesh University; Observatory Hill in Western Shimla, which holds the estate of the Indian Institute of Advanced Study; Invererarm in Western Shimla, whose top has the State Museum; Bantony in central Shimla, which has the Grand Hotel; Jakhoo in central Shimla, which is crowned by the temple indicated to Lord Hanuman, and Elysium in north-western Shimla, which holds Auckland House and Longwood and reaches out towards the Bharari spur
Manali – Brilliant snowline, Lovely Orchards, Religious Importance
Lets get to know Manali now.
Manali is situated in the state of Himachal Pradesh, which also features Shimla. being at a higher elevation and with a Geo location deeper in to the Himalayan Mountain range Manali provides you a better view of snowline. When the sun rises in horizon the the snow peaks get illuminated and provide a view that lasts in your heart for long.
Places of Attraction
Gadhan Thekchoking Gompa : A treat to watch. made by Tibetan refugees.
Hidimba Devi Temple : Four story wooden temple in the middle of a forest.
Vashisth Village : Valley view and a unique settlement with timber houses, muddy lanes, paved courtyards.
Other places near Manali worth visiting include Rohtang pass, Kothi, Arjun Gufa, Beas Kund, Jagatsukh Temple
Gangtok – The land of Gurkha, Lamas and foggy hills
The capital of sikkim state and one of the finest hill stations in India.
Gangtok boasts of scenic landscapes that one can imagine only in picture books. The color comes out bright with the greenery, snow and colorful culture of lamas in their beautiful monasteries. The state of Sikkim is situated between Nepal, Bhutan and Tibet. The sight of lamas in red rotating those beaded wheels in their hand and mumbling hymns is something you would like to capture in your lens. (squidoo lens too)
Important Places to visit
Deer Park : An enclosure of animals native to Sikkim with a decorated Buddha statue.
Dul-Dul Chorten : Monastery build by his holiness Trulshi Rinpoche.
Kangchendzonga National Park : Slightly snow covered alpine forests with a gradual climb. Close view of Glaciers and Snowline.
Kechopari Lake : Placid lake suoorunded by thick forested hills with crystal clear water.
Other Places to visit:
Phurchachu Reshi Hot Springs, Labrang Monastery, Lachung, Pemayangtse Monastery, Rumtek Monastery, Tasuklakhang – The Royal Chapel, The Ridge, Tsomgo Lake, White Hall, Yaksey
Ooty – The Sapphire in Blue Mountains Range
Ooty is known for its unique picturesque landscapes, plesant climate, tea estates and the abhoriginal Todas tribe.
Ooty is located in the state of Tamil Nadu in southern India. Its the most popular hill station in south and the top choice destination for honeymooners and trekkers. A very suitable place to enjoy with your family and friends. If you are interested in Trekking then Ooty provides some very trekking tracks that are so serene and beautiful that you would like to trap every moment of your trek in your lens. The nilgiri bison, black monkeys, flying squirrels are really interesting creatures and you can see them if you are lucky. If you are in Ooty do not miss a ride on the Ooty toy train. It is a world heritage.
Places to visit in and around Ooty.
Botanical Garden : Great location and nice collection of exotic flowers and plants from around the world.
Ooty Lake : Good place to hang out on the lawn or take a boat ride in the lake. Entertainment for children with some joy rides 3d theaters etc.
Rose Garden : Laid on a terraced slope it blooms 2500 plus varieties of roses.
Dodabetta Peak : The highest peak in south India and is a cool view point.
Tea Museum : This place will catch your eye where ever you are in the Ooty town. It tells you about tea museum about history of Tea and a real time display of tea production. A free tea too.
Other places to visit around ooty : Pykara lake and falls, 9th Mile, Avalanche grass lands, Coonor, Catherine Falls, Dolphin Nose View point etc
Gulmarg : The tastiest Apple in the orchard of paradise on earth.
Gulmarg is hot favourite among tourists visiting Kashmir Valley in India.
A treat from mother nature in all her glory. Gulmarg is a cup shaped meadow surrounded by snow capped mountains. This lush green belt of 3 sq kms provides a placid a retreat from the worldly affairs and some nourishment for your soul. On a clear day one can see the great Nanga Parbat and the Srinagar city from this place. It provides some great walks and acts as a base for trekking enthusiasts. You may also enjoy the Heli-skiing, Skiing, Golf and Gondola lift. The golf course of Gulmarg is one of the highest green golf courses in the world.
Other places and activities to cover in and around Gulmarg :
Gulmarg Biosphere Reserves, Alpather Lake, Ferozpore Nallah, Khilanmarg, Shrine of Baba Reshi, The Ningli Nallah, Gulmarg Walks
Munnar – Little London of India
Munnar tops the list of travellers headed to south India especially Kerela.
Hills all around Munnar are laid with tea estates since 1870 when A.H Sharp planted the first tea sapling. Munnar is also know for the exotic flower “NeelaKurinji” that blooms once in 12 years and bathes the whole landscape in blues color. Nature lovers and trekking enthusiasts will be in for a treat here. The wildlife sanctuary of Eravikulam is an ideal trekking zone. Just after the monsoon season in first half of August the world famous Kerala Snake Boat Race is held in Alleyppy near Munnar.Other places to visit in and around Munnar
Idukki, Kuthumkal Waterfalls, Observatory Hills, kundala, Pallivasal, Nyayamakkad, Echo Point, madupetty, Devikulam, Pothamedu
Nainital – The hill station of Lakes
A rejuvenating place dotted with beautiful lakes. You would love this place for its pure scenic beauty.
Once this place used to boast of 60 lakes. But the few that remain today have a magical charm around them that hold the admirers hostage to their divine beauty.
The town of Nainital grows around the lake of Naini named after the revered goddess.Nainital was discovered in 1841 by a Britisher called Lord Barron. The weather, the surrounding and the mesmerizing beauty of this area attracted the British administrator who turned this place into the summer capital of the United Province. Being a major tourist place Nainital is always bustling with visitors and it is always better if accommodation and other facilities are prearranged.
If you are in Nainital and have some horse riding experience then hire a horse and feel free to roam the town and explore the beauty of the adjoining area. It will give you a view that can seldom be matched by any other mode of transport. If you are a trekking enthusiast then you are in for a treat. choose from among the various trekking routes, pack a small bag and get going. I would advice not to go in a crowd. Split into smaller groups and then feel the peace and beauty of Nainital trickle into your veins. Honeymoon tour packages for Nainital are very popular among young couples in India and the Indian Subcontinent.
Tawang – Divinity, Natural Beauty and Solitude bundled with a finesse
Check out the land of Monpas, Mystic Gonpas, beautiful mountains, placid lakes, tranquil villages and revered Monastries.
The average height of Tawang district is around 3500 meters above sea level. If you are in Tawang make sure you dont miss the lakes around it. It is some 17 Kms from the Tawang Town but is more than worth your pains to travel to the place. You will have a tryst with divine nature and peace reigns so well that you could even talk to your soul. Recently a popular poll by NDTV, a leading Indian news channel honored Tawang as the spiritual wonder of India.
Coorg – Simple and Beautiful, Golfers Paradise
Coorg and its capital Madikeri are a superb choice for holiday makers who can enjoy themselves to the last minute in the lap of nature at a special best.
The Bramha temple situated here is only the second of its kind in India and South East Asia.
Mahabaleswar – Strawberries, Mullberries and Honeymoon Retreat
A beautiful summer retreat for those bored of the city hubhub, particularly Mumbai and Pune.
Places to visit in Mahabaleswar -
Wilson/Sunset Point : It is normally crowded in the sunset as every one flock there. There are chaiwallas, eateries and small game parlors too. I did not like the crowded affair of enjoying a sunset, but the tricks being displayed by the horses at on being prodded by their owners was pretty amusing.
Other good places you would like to check out.
Mahabaleswar Temple, Venna Lake, Panchgani