Hill stations in India to Visit

Shimla (Himachal Pradesh)

In Himachal Pradesh is a beautiful sprawling hill staying in Shimla. It is something special to visit if you are able on any trip to the area. Once a part of Nepal it is now a favourite place for people in India or visiting India. Enjoy the cool mountain air in the summer, and the snow in the winter and have fun on the toy train both up and down. It has been given World Heritage status by UNESCO and is a popular and well-known narrow gauge mountain rail journey opportunity. There is a lot to do there, the Monkey Temple, hiking and more.

Mount Abu (Southern Rajasthan)

While Rajasthan might not have many hill stations, (this is it) it is well worth visiting and is popular among tourists. Get away from the heat and see all the way to Pakistan when the clouds are not in the way. There is a good reason why the Maharaja of Jaipur had a summer retreat built here in the late 19th century. Diwali is a great time to visit and there are hikes, temples and even a polo ground.

Vanjangi hill station (Andhra Pradesh)

This hill station in Andhra Pradesh is not as busy or well known as others but is worth visiting for almost that reason. You will not see as many people and you can enjoy the view it offers. Vanjangi hill station is best to visit before sunrise so you can see the golden clouds as the sun shines. This means getting there by 5am at the latest, and it is an hour hike up to the top with a steep climb part of the way.

Dharamsala (Himachal Pradesh)

This hill station is also called Little Lhasa and as well as enjoying the mountain air you can see the saffron and burgundy of Buddhist monks and their prayer flags. It is a far cry from smog and noisy traffic in the heavily populated areas. Learn about mediation and Yoga, listen to the monks as they chant their prayers or even enjoy their debates. Or take a walk, see the waterfall, visit the academy, and explore holistic therapies.

Nilgiri hill stations (The western Ghats)

There are three hill stations in the Nilgiri hills in Southern India and the oldest is Kotagiri which is quieter and then there is Ooty, a lot more popular and more famous or Coonoor. There you can enjoy quiet and fantastic views if you go to Upper Coonoor. Take a miniature train and enjoy the scenic ride.

Exploring other options as well as hill stations

As well as heading up into the mountains to check out hill stations there is a lot to do elsewhere. Different national parks, reserves and a lot of plants, animals and such to explore and see. In Uttarakhand you could, for example, head to Jims Jungle Retreat. There are places to stay, tours, hikes, adventures, and more. Whether you want to relax, or be more active you can do anything you want.