1. Manali, Himachal Pradesh
Popular for its scenic beauty, flowery gardens, snow-capped mountains, and orchards of red and green apples, Manali is one of the best hill stations in India in May & June. This is one of the highest hill station in India.
- Best Experiences: Visit the Rohtang Pass, the highest point on the Manali-Keylong Road. Some of the other great spots here are Kalath Hot Water Springs, Vashist Hot Water Springs, Jogini Falls, and Solang Valley.
- Best Time To Visit: October to February
- Ideal Duration: Plan for a 4 day trip to one of the famous hill stations in India to visit in May.
- How to reach: Fly to Bhuntar airport followed by a 2 hour taxi or bus ride. Or take the Himachal Pradesh State bus from Delhi to Manali (553 km) which takes 10 hours.
- Things To Do: Ride A Yak, Bike Ride, Rafting
2. Ooty, Tamil Nadu
Ooty is amongst the best hill stations in south India. It is popular for those who seek the beauty of nature, relax and take part in activities that could add new experiences to their travel diaries.
- Best Experiences: Explore the cozy cottages and go for trekking along the plantation sites for breathtaking views. You could indulge in adventurous activities like angling and hand gliding too.
- Best Time To Visit: October to June
- Ideal Duration: Visit Ooty for 3 days for a good trip.
- How to reach: The Coimbatore international airport is the closest. Nilgiri express leaves from Chennai to Mettupalayam near Ooty. Buses and shared taxis are available.
- Things To Do: Visit Botanical Gardens
3. Darjeeling, West Bengal
The hugely commercial but equally breathtaking Darjeeling boasts of snowcapped peaks and endless tea gardens. Spend your days here exploring the colonial-era architecture, visiting Buddhist monasteries and of course sampling the fabulous tea.
- Best Experiences: Visit a tea estate such as the Happy Valley Tea Estate, take a toy train ride through the Batasia Loop and War Memorial, watch the spectacular Khangchendzonga from the Tiger Hill and spend an afternoon at the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute and Museum. Other great destinations here are the Observatory hill, Buddhist monasteries in Ghum and the Japanese Peace Pagoda.
- Best Time To Visit: March to May
- Ideal Duration: Visit for a minimum of 4 days for a good trip.
- How to reach: Take a flight directly to the Bagdogra Airport lowed by a 4 hour taxi ride. Or take the train to New Jalpaiguri followed by a 4 hour taxi.
- Things To Do: Go River Rafting, Trekking
4. Leh Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir
From nature, landscapes, culture, to the geographical terrain, Ladakh exudes beauty in its every aspect that enchants anyone who sets foot in this mystical land up north. With sparkling blue lakes, cold deserts, to colorful monasteries and gompas, Ladakh has an array of elements that make it a complete Heaven on Earth and one of the best top most hill stations in India. It’s probably the only place on Earth where you can suffer from sunstroke and frostbite at the same time. While Leh happens to be the capital city of Leh, other places that travelers can explore here include Kargil, Nubra, Pangong Tso, and more.
- Best Experiences: Camel ride at Nubra Valley, visit Pangong Tso, ATV ride, river rafting at Zanskar, bike ride to Chele La Pass (highest motorable pass in the world)
- Best Time To Visit: April to June
- Ideal Duration: A duration of 5 nights and 6 days is good for your holiday.
- How to reach: Leh Airport is the nearest airport. One can also drive via the Delhi-Manali-Leh route for an enchanting road trip to Ladakh, one of the highest altitude hill stations in India .
- Things To Do: Camel Safari, Trekking
5. Mussoorie, Uttarakhand
If your definition of a perfect hilly escapade revolves around strolling through unadulterated natural surroundings, sitting somewhere and looking at a pretty sunset, visiting quaint churches, and buy woolens at a jolly Mall Road, then Mussoorie is the right place for you! Tucked away in the foothills of the Himalayas, Mussoorie is among the best hill stations in India to visit. Its year-round pleasant weather makes it a top choice for couples and honeymooners anyway, add to it the pristine natural beauty and amazing food for a great holiday experience in the mountains of India! It will surprise you to know that it is sometimes called the Queen of Hill Stations in India !
- Best Experiences: Visit to the churches, shopping at Mall Road, a plate or two of steaming momos at the local eateries, a dip at Kempty Falls
- Best Time To Visit: April-June
- Ideal Duration: A duration of 2 nights 3 days is perfect for your holiday.
- How to reach: Dehradun Airport is the nearest airport. One can also drive from the nearest metros via Dehradun city.
- Things To Do: Trekking, Hiking, Paragliding
6. Auli, Uttarakhand
Auli is a beautiful tourist spot which is famous for skiing all across the country. This scenic place, well is known for its oak edged slopes and verdant coniferous forests is amongst the best hill stations in India.
- Best Experiences: Visit Nandaprayag, a popular attraction of Auli which is situated at the meeting point of the River Alaknanda and Mandakini. Also see the natural spring in the village of Saildhar Tapovan, the Auli Artificial Lake, and the Chattarkund Lake. Travel on the Gondola for a beautiful aerial view of the place.
- Best Time To Visit: November to March
- Ideal Duration: Visit for a minimum of 4 days for a good trip.
- How to reach: Take a flight directly to the Jolly Grant Airport (279 kms) followed by a 5 hour taxi ride. Or take the 8 hour bus to Joshimath situated at a distance of 16 kms from Auli.
- Things To Do: Skiing, Shopping, Hiking
7. Shimla, Himachal Pradesh
Also known as ‘The Summer Refuge’ Shimla is famous for the colonial heritage buildings and British architecture on display. This combined with the natural beauty makes it a perfect destination for a summer trip in North India. Regarded as one of the premier hill stations in India with the airport, Shimla must be on your bucket list. This is believed to be the best hill station in north India.
- Best Experiences: See various species of birds at the Himalayan Aviary, enjoy a quiet picnic at Glenn next to a captivating stream and the beautiful Dorje Drak Monastery. Other prominent sites include Solan Brewery, Darlaghat, Scandal Point, Kamna Devi Temple, Jakhu Hill, and Gurkha Gate.
- Best Time To Visit: November and February
- Ideal Duration: Visit for a minimum of 3 days for a good trip.
- How to reach: Take a flight directly to Jubbarhatti in Shimla. Or take the train to Kalka followed by a 2-hour taxi ride.
- Things To Do: Toy Train Ride, Rafting
8. Gangtok, Sikkim
Bound by the lush green forests and located on the Shivalik Hills Gangtok is a must see place while visiting the North-east part of the country. Gangtok is one of the best hill stations in India for honeymoon that you should add to your list.
Best Experiences: Visit Tsomgo Lake and Gurudongmar Lake, the two most scenic and highest mountain lakes in the world, making this one of the best hill tourist places in India. Also, make a trip to the historical Nathula Pass. Some of the other prominent points are Fambong La Wildlife Sanctuary, Enchey Monastery, Rumtek Monastery, and Tashiding Monastery.
Best Time To Visit: October to mid-December
Ideal Duration: Visit for a minimum of 4 days for a good trip.
How to reach: Take a flight directly to the Bagdogra Airport followed by a 2.5-hour taxi ride. Or take the train to New Jalpaiguri followed by a 2.5-hour taxi ride.
Things To Do: Cable Ride, Yak Safari
9. Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir
A place of splendid natural beauty, historic gardens and distinctive mosques, Srinagar is without a doubt one of best hill stations in North India.
- Best Experiences: Get enchanted by the beautiful Nishat Bagh and Shalimar Bagh, the botanical gardens during the popular Tulip festival and Badamwari Garden to see the almond trees in full bloom. Make a visit to the tranquil Shankaracharya Mandir, the beautiful Khanqah Shah-i-Hamadan mosque and Pari Mahal. And finally, spend a day exploring life on Dal lake and Nigeen lake. It is among the coldest hill stations in India during winter.
- Best Time To Visit: April to October
- Ideal Duration: Visit for a minimum of 4 days for a good trip.
- How to reach: Take a flight directly to the Srinagar International Airport. Or take the train to Jammu followed by a taxi or a J&K State Road Transport Corporation bus to Srinagar.
- Things To Do: Trekking, Birdwatching
10. Mcleodganj, Himachal Pradesh
The Tibetan town of McLeodganj is a great spot for a holiday at any time of the year. Surrounded by snow-capped hills and with a number of beautiful monasteries, it is the perfect place for a serene trip and one of the most popular hill stations in India with snowfall .
- Best Experiences: Visit the Tibet Museum inside of the Tsuglagkhang Complex and the charming waterfall in Bhagsu. Go for a hike to the tiny camp of Triund for the incredible view of the Himalayan peaks.
- Best Time To Visit: October to February
- Ideal Duration: Visit for a minimum of 2 days for a good trip.
- How to reach: Take a flight to Gaggal Airport (20 kms) followed by a 45 minute taxi ride. Buses from ISBT Anand Vihar run to Mcleodganj in 10 hours.
- Things To Do: Boat ride, Camping
Lovely
Awesome blog you have brother
Thankyou, These all places are really awesome. I have visited 2 among them but i wanna visit them all.
nice blog and information would love to see more pictures in a travel blog.
nice blog
Nice place information in your blog.
Very beautiful pictures, nice article. Yes, there are many beautiful places …