Here comes a question. “Mountain yaa beach?” “Mountain hamesha”, pat comes your reply. If this is you, you intrinsically know that hill stations are your vibe. You live in hill stations. You dream of hill stations. And you sleep at hill stations. Even if you’re an ardent fan of nature and find it difficult to choose between mountains and beaches, you cannot deny the stunning beauty of the hills.
So, here are 7 hill stations in India that you must definitely plan a trip to at least once.
1. Gulmarg, Kashmir
A lot has been said about Kashmir and no words can do justice to the unparalleled beauty of this paradise on Earth. When here, go for relaxing walks through nature trails, try your hand at skiing, take an adventurous aerial ride in the gondola, enjoy the pristine scenery of Alpather Lake, and appreciate wildlife at the Gulmarg Biosphere Reserve. Not just that, bask in the tranquillity of the grand mountains at Khilanmarg and plan a rejuvenating picnic among the snow at Ningle Nallah.
How To Reach:
By Air: Reach Srinagar Airport & then by road
By Rail: Reach Jammu Tawi Railway Station & then by road
When To Visit: October to February
2. Munnar, Kerala
You cannot not visit the endless landscapes of the tea gardens while at Munnar and take a tour around the tea museum to know how the leaves are processed and packaged. Spend some leisure hours amidst nature at Pothamedu View Point. Visit Nilgiri tahr, an endangered wild goat, at the reserved area that used to be the hunting ground for the British. Witness the grandeur of the huge reservoir at Mattupetty Dam and spend some leisure hours at Nyayamakad, Attukal Waterfalls, and Devikulam.
How To Reach:
By Air: Reach Cochin International Airport & then by road
By Rail: Aluva Railway Station & then by road
When To Visit: September to March
3. Leh-Ladakh, Jammu & Ladakh
Indulge in river rafting through the white waters of the Zanskar River flowing through the rugged valley of the same name, treat your senses to the beauty of the Pangong Tso Lake, and soak in the peace by the banks of the Tso Moriri Lake.
Indulge in river rafting through the white waters of the Zanskar River flowing through the rugged valley of the same name, treat your senses to the beauty of the Pangong Tso Lake, and soak in the peace by the banks of the Tso Moriri Lake. Acquaint yourself with Buddhist culture and heritage at Hemis Monastery amongst many others, as the exquisite architecture at Shanti Stupa, and watch wildlife like Tibetan Antelope, Blue Sheep, and Shapo, among others, in its natural habitat.
How To Reach:
By Air: Reach Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport & then by road
By Road: Via Srinagar or Manali
When To Visit: April to June
4. Darjeeling, West Bengal
Go for a lazy train ride at Batasia Loop to enjoy the picturesque scenery at this quaint hill station and fill your soul with an all round of the green hills from the Observatory Hill.
Go for a lazy train ride at Batasia Loop to enjoy the picturesque scenery at this quaint hill station and fill your soul with an all-round of green hills from Observatory Hill. Schedule a refreshing picnic at Nightingale Park and embrace peace at the Japanese Temple and Peace Pagoda. That’s not all! If you’re lucky, you may even catch a glimpse of leopards at the Padmaja Naidu Zoological Park, along with other species of wildlife.
How To Reach:
By Air: Reach Bagdogra Airport in Siliguri & then by road
By Rail: New Jalpaiguri Railway Station & then by road
By Road: Rocket & Volvo buses from Kolkata & Siliguri
When To Visit: April to June
5. Lachung, Sikkim
An often ignored hill station because of its location near the fast east of India, only visiting it will make you realise what you were missing out on.
An often ignored hill station because of its location near the fast east of India, only visiting it will make you realise what you were missing out on. Surrender yourself to the magnificence of the Gurudongmar Lake, take a view of the hilly terrain from Zero Point, trek to Yumthang Valley, enjoy the serenity at the Bhim Nala Waterfalls, visit Lachung Monastery, and feel the adrenaline rush while trekking at Mount Katao.
How To Reach:
By Air: Reach Bagdogra Airport in Siliguri & then by road
By Rail: New Jalpaiguri Railway Station & then by road
By Road: Rocket & Volvo buses from Jew Jalpaiguri & Gangtok
When To Visit: October To February
6. Pachmarhi, Madhya Pradesh
A hill station with quite a few caves, visit Jata Shankar Caves (a limestone cave) and Pandava Caves that celebrate the exquisite rock-cut Buddhist temples.
A hill station with quite a few caves, visit Jata Shankar Caves (a limestone cave) and Pandava Caves that celebrate the exquisite rock-cut Buddhist temples. Make memories in the lap of nature at Dhoopgarh viewpoint, Bee Waterfalls, Duchess Waterfalls, Apsara Vihar Waterfalls, Priyadarshini Point, Mahadeo Hills, and a host of other places. The tourist attractions waiting to embrace you with open arms and give you a flavour of the hill station.
How To Reach:
By Air: Reach Bhopal or Jabalpur Airport & then by road
By Rail: Reach Pipariya Railway Station & then by road
When To Visit: October to June
7. Panchgani, Maharashtra
A hill station with quite a few caves, visit Jata Shankar Caves (a limestone cave) and Pandava Caves that celebrate the exquisite rock-cut Buddhist temples.
A hill station in close proximity to the hustle of Mumbai, Panchgani is one of the places that offer you the opportunity to let your hair down for a few days and return to your city life refreshed. At Panchgani, visit Lodwick Point which boasts an expansive view of the Krishna Valley. The volcanic plateau at Table Land comes to life with its lush greenery during the monsoons. Admire the Bhilar Waterfalls and Lingmala Waterfalls, and take a lazy boat ride at the Dhom Dham.
How To Reach:
By Air: Mumbai Airport & then by road
By Rail: Reach Satara Railway Station & then by road
By Road: Buses & cars are readily available from Mumbai
When To Visit: September to February
Now that you have a few choices to choose from for your next mountain vacay, pick a place from the list and start dreaming about making memories there. Bon voyage!
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