Top Hill Stations in India

Introduction:

India is a country that has a very varied topography, which means that the country is full of holiday destinations Top Hill Stations in India cater to all kinds of travelers. India has abundant hill stations spread all over the country which makes for a tranquil and picturesque destination for tourists.

There are plenty of picturesque top hill stations in India that offer respite from this heat. The majority of them were built by the British around a central mall to provide relief from the oppressive summer heat. There are myriad things and places to explore and enjoy in any of India’s hill stations. 

List Of Top Hill Stations in India:

Ooty:

Nestled amidst Nilgiri hills, Ooty, also known as Udagamandalam, is one of the top hill stations in India. It is a hill station in Tamil Nadu that serves as a top-rated tourist destination. Once regarded as the summer headquarters of the East India Company, the Queen of the Hills is a picturesque getaway. 

It is as much about mountain trails and lush green scenery as it is about lakes that stretch for miles and waterfalls that suddenly come into view as you take a hairpin bend. The city is abundant of crystal clear lakes surrounded by hills, creating the perfect ambience for the cool wind to hit your face and pull you into the exhilaration of being one with nature. 

Since Ooty is mostly about nature, another beautifully scenic location that the city has to offer are the Ooty Botanical Gardens, located right in the heart of the city. 

Spread out over acres and acres of land, these gardens house hundreds of different varieties of plant and flower species, and it makes for a charmingly scenic delight for the senses. Dotted with tea gardens, serene waterfalls, winding country lanes, and charming colonial architecture, Ooty is the perfect respite for everyone. 

Popular among couples and honeymooners, Ooty allures its visitors with the panoramic views of the Nilgiri mountains. The Nilgiri mountain railway is the steepest track in all of Asia. Overall ooty is one of the top hill stations in India.

Darjeeling:

Darjeeling, the former summer capital of India under the British Raj, has evolved into one of India’s top 10 hill stations in India. It is the most sought-after hill station. This picturesque hill destination in West Bengal is ideal for a romantic honeymoon.

Darjeeling, nestled among acres of tea estates, is 2,050 meters above sea level and thus has a cool climate all year. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway established back in 1881 is conferred the title of World Heritage Status by UNESCO.

The train begins its journey from the plains and rises to over 2000 meters above sea level, offering breathtaking views of the mountains as it chugs along. Darjeeling is also famous for its tea plantations with over 86 tea estates responsible for producing the worldwide famous ‘Darjeeling Tea’. 

Some of Darjeeling’s most popular attractions include monasteries, botanical gardens, a zoo, and the Darjeeling-Rangeet Valley Passenger Ropeway cable car, which is the longest Asian cable car. Tiger Hill is a fantastic spot to see the sunrise over the mountains in all its fiery glory. Moreover is one of the top hill stations in India.

Mussorie:

Mussoorie is one of the top most popular hill stations located at a distance of 290 km from Delhi in the Dehradun district of Uttarakhand. With a backdrop of the Shivalik range of Himalayas and doon valley, Mussoorie, also known as Queen of The Hills, stands at an altitude of 7000 feet above sea level. 

With a cool and pleasant climate throughout the year, Mussoorie was once the British summer capital. The British remnants can be seen in the city in the archaic architecture of the hotels and churches. One of the most popular tourist attractions in Mussoorie is The Mall, which is a slightly steep boulevard with eateries and other shops lining its entire stretch. 

From the little houses spread around the area to the architecture of even the lamp posts, The Mall gives off a distinct colonial vibe. Another major highlight of Mussoorie is the Ropeway to Gun Hill.

Gun Hill is the second highest peak in Mussoorie, and tourists can avail of the cable car ropeway ride to Gun Hill, which offers an enchanting view of the entire city as well as the surrounding Himalayan mountains.

The adjoining little hill station of Landour, along with Mussoorie, Barlowganj and Jharipani together form the greater Mussoorie.  With a lot of waterfalls, the town of Dhanaulti in the vicinity and the remains of colonial architecture, Mussoorie has everything to make a memorable vacation. Moreover is one of the top hill stations in India.

Mahabaleshwar:

Mahabaleshwar is one of the top 10 hill stations in India. It is set among the Sahyadri mountain ranges. It was the former summer capital of Bombay during British rule in India and is still, one of the most popular hill stations in West India. Mahabaleshwar is not just renowned for its strawberries but also its medieval forts, beautiful gardens, lakes, scenic waterfalls, and pleasant weather all year. 

Mahabaleshwar is also a sacred pilgrimage place for Hindus as the Krishna river originates from here. Once a summer capital of the British, the hill station of Mahabaleshwar comprises of ancient temples, boarding schools, manicured and lush green dense forest, waterfalls, hills, valleys. 

It is often used as a base to visit the magnificent Pratapgad Fort, located an hour away. It is a popular weekend escape spot for Mumbai and Pune residents. It’s frequently used as a starting point for exploring the majestic Pratapgad Fort, which is about an hour away. That’s why is one of the top hill stations in India.

Kasol:

Kasol is one of the top 10 hill stations in India. It is a quaint little village in Himachal situated along the banks of the river Parvati. Commonly known as the ‘Amsterdam of India’, Kasol is a tourist attraction that is rapidly gaining fame as a popular hub for trekkers, backpackers, and nature lovers. 

The valley is situated 23 kms from Bhuntar and next to the religious town of Manikaran and is one of the best places in the country just to sit back and chill in the panorama of snow-clad mountains, pine trees and serene river. As a result of huge tourist bustle, the place is multicultural. 

You will find people of different cultures, speaking different languages on board. There is one school in Kasol. The locals live in small colourful huts. Most of them run cafes and others are local tourist guides.is inhabited by a huge number of people from Israel, which is discernible from the plenteously available Israeli food, and the street signposts inscribed in Hebrew.

The valley has quite a few streetside cafes which serve delicious food, and the experience of sitting and enjoying a meal amidst the dark green forests and the awe-inspiring mountains make the meal even more enjoyable. No wonder it is one of the top hill stations in India.

Gulmarg:

Situated at an altitude of 2730 m above sea level, Gulmarg is one of the top 10 hill stations in India. It is a popular skiing destination located in Pir Panjal Range of Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Gulmarg seems like a fairytale town hidden in the panoramic Kashmir valley.

It is a popular skiing destination and has one of Asia’s longest cable car projects, making it undisputedly; one of the best hill stations to visit in India. Surrounded by snow-covered lofty Himalayas, meadows of flowers, deep ravines, evergreen forested valleys, Gulmarg also has the world’s second-highest Gondola ride. 

Gulmarg is one of the top honeymoon destinations in India. Gulmarg has also been developed as an adventure hub as the Indian Institute of Skiing, and Mountaineering is located here. A lot of courses on trekking, mountaineering, skiing, and snowboarding are offered by IISM. There are a lot of other private tour operators in Gulmarg as well, which provide similar courses and facilities for skiing and snowboarding. Overall it is one of the top hill stations in India.

Nainital:

Nainital is one of the top 10 hill stations in India. It is a charming hill station located at the foothills of the Kumaon ranges in Uttarakhand. Located close to Dehradun and Delhi, it is the most visited hill station in North India. 

Nainital is a perfect weekend getaway from Delhi and the nearby places.Founded by the British due to its resemblance to the Cumbrian Lake District, Nainital brims with elegant colonial structures that amplify the beauty of this place. 

There are some small hill towns near Nainital like Pangot, Ranikhet, Almora, which remain comparatively unexplored. Nainital also has some small trekking trails. Nainital experiences a pleasant climate throughout the year, making it a popular hill station for families, couples and even solo travellers. It is easily accessible from nearby major cities by road and is ideal for a 2-day visit. 

The Naina Lake is the centre of Nainital with Mall Road on one side, Thandi Sadak on the other side, and the bus stand opposite it. It offers many specialities for shopping ranging from branded goods to locally produced apparels and products.

 The biggest market in Nainital is the Mall Road market which is usually crowded. The street has a long chain of shops located on the bank of Naini. Overall it is one of the top hill stations in India.

Munnar:

Famous for the tea estates, greenery, winding roads, blanket of mist, and viewpoints, Munnar is one of the top 10 hill stations in India. Munnar is known for its tea estates, lush foliage, and misty natural viewpoints. Once the summer resort of the erstwhile British government, the main reason to visit Munnar is to explore the sprawling tea plantations and the exotic flora and fauna.

The Eravikulam National Park, Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary and tea plantations are its major attractions. Munnar is also famous for being home to the rare Neelakurinji flowers that bloom once in 12 years and the endangered Nilgiri Tahr. 

While in Munnar, you can either visit the museum and tea plantations to get an insight into tea processing and sample fresh tea or stroll through the Eravikulam National Park to witness the beauty of rolling hills and lush valleys.

 It is also an ideal place for trekking, camping, paragliding and boating. As it’s a hilly region, Jeep safari is also a popular activity to experience. Munnar is often visited along with Alleppey and Thekkady, the two most popular tourist destinations in Kerala. Moreover it is one of the top hill stations in India.

Shimla:

Shimla is one of the top 10 hill stations in India. It is well connected with many cities and is just 4 hours from the nearby city of Chandigarh. The city has an airport as well; however, there aren’t many daily flights from here. The railway station connects Shimla with the plans and is famous for the Kalka-Shimla train route; a UNESCO-listed World Heritage site. 

It was the summer capital of British India. The hill station still retains its old-world charm with beautiful colonial architecture, pedestrian-friendly Mall Road, and the ridge lined up with multiple shops, cafes, and restaurants.

Shimla is often covered along with nearby towns of Kufri, a hill station almost always covered by snow, and Chail, famous for its huge palace and the highest cricket ground in the world. Tourists also visit the famous Jakhu Temple and engage in sightseeing at various viewpoints during their trip to Shimla. Moreover, it is one of the top hill stations in India.

Mount Abu:

The only hill station in Rajasthan, Mount Abu is one of the top hill stations in India. It is located in the Aravali range. The most important attraction, however, are undoubtedly the Dilwara temples, which are one of the most stunning pieces of architecture in the country.  

Travelers can enjoy calm and relaxed boating in Nakki Lake, and a view of the sunset from the vista points. The restaurants and eateries around the lake are great places to eat local food and chill. The highest peak of the Aravali Range – Guru Shikhar also lies in Mt. Abu. Mount Abu Forest Sanctuary with an abundance of flora and fauna is also a highlight. 

The exceptionally intricate architecture of the Dilwara temples is of course the main attraction here, and you can easily spend hours wondering how these temples were built over 2 centuries, almost 1000 years back. The temples were specifically made so that they are plain from the outside to avoid the attraction of plunderers, and have withstood the test of time extremely well. Overall it is one of the top hill stations in India.

Conclusion:

As for the final say, these are the Top Hill Stations in India. These hill stations are heavenly beautiful and are visited by, millions of People. These hill stations are filled with amazing views and are worth the visit.