Discover India's unique hill stations
Gulmarg
Gulmarg is located in the Baramulla district of Jammu state. Set in the beautiful Kashmir Valley, the hill station marks one of the region's best skiing spots. It's also a convenient base for treks to the Himalayas. Visit between May and September and you can even practice your swing on an 18-hole golf course, one of the highest layouts in the world!
Pelling
Sikkim, a state in northeastern India, is where to find Pelling, a hill station known as a primary location for trekkers and mountaineers who prefer to set their base here before moving on to the high altitude trek routes into the snow capped Eastern Himalayas and the forbidding Kanchenjunga range.
Nainital
The charming picture-perfect Nainital hill station in Uttarakhand state is celebrated for its scenic lake, which nestles in the Kumaon foothills nearly 2,000 m (6,561 ft) above sea level. Nainital is surrounded by mountains, the highest being Naina, at 2,615 m (8,579 ft), and the sense of the remote is tangible. It's probably why this hill station ranks among the most visited in northern India.
Manali
Set at an altitude of 1,585 m (6,472 ft) in Kullu district, Himachal Pradesh, Manali is one of the most popular hill stations in India's Himalaya range. A year-round destination, Manali attracts adventure tourists for its trekking, horse riding, and paragliding opportunities. In winter it's mostly the preserve of skiers. Snow is present all year on the Rohtang Pass.
Chopta
Anyone seeking solitude will be rewarded at Chopta, a remote hill station blessed with a scenic yet tranquil aura. Chopta, located in Uttarakhand state and sometimes called "mini Switzerland" for its breathtaking mountain scenery, is one of India's best snow-trekking destinations. In summer, the wide-stretching grasslands called Bugyals are equally popular with hikers.
Shimla
Shimla is arguably India's best-known hill station, not least because the city of Shimla is the capital of the northern state of Himachal Pradesh. Enjoying an elevation of around 2,000 m (6,561 ft), the hill station serves as a welcome retreat from the soaring temperatures of the plains below, fanned as it is by cool, fresh air.
Mussoorie
Known as the "Queen of the Hills," Mussoorie is another one of India's favored hill stations. Located at a height of 2,005 m (6,578 ft) above sea level around 35 km (21 mi) from Dehradun in the state of Uttarakhand, Mussoorie affords majestic views of the Doon Valley and snow-capped Garhwal Himalayas.
Kasol
Tucked away in the verdant Parvati Valley in the Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh is Kasol hill station. A Himalaya hotspot for backpackers, Kasol is found at an elevation of 1,640 m (5,380 ft) on the way to the pilgrim town of Manikaran. Interestingly, Kasol has a sizeable Israeli population, and visitors can't help noticing the abundance of signs outside shops and cafés written in Hebrew.
Almora
Perched 1,651 m (6,415 ft) on a ridge at the southern edge of the Kumaon Hills of the Himalaya range, Almora is one of India's hill stations known for its exceptional beauty and the protected species kept at the nearby Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary. Almora is considered the region's cultural capital, and also regarded as a sacred destination for pilgrims.
McLeodganj
Named after Sir Donald Freill McLeod (1810–1872), the Lieutenant Governor of the Punjab between 1865 and 1870, McLeodganj hill station draws visitors to its abundance of Buddhist monasteries and temples, indicative of the large population of Tibetans.
Mount Abu
Remote Mount Abu is tucked away in the Aravalli mountain range in Rajasthan and serves as a lofty getaway from the sultry desert climate this northwestern Indian state is notorious for. The destination sits amid lush, green forested hills on the highest peak on the range, Guru Shikhar, at 1,722 m (5,650 ft) above sea level.
Kodaikanal
Its name in the Tamil language means "The Gift of the Forest," and Kodaikanal is indeed one of the most attractive hill stations found in India. It's located in Dindigul district in the state of Tamil Nadu, and is blessed with panoramic views of velvety green hills and a lake that's used for boating.
Matheran
Located in the Raigad district in the Indian state of Maharashtra, picturesque Matheran is one of the smallest hill stations in the country. The standout attractions here are the numerous lookout points dotted around the area. If you have only time for one, head for the aptly named Panorama Point that provides a 360-degree view of the surrounding area and Neral town.
Wilson Hills
Named in memory of Sir Leslie Wilson, the Governor of Mumbai from 1923 to 1928, Wilson Hills is located near Dharampur Tahsil in Gujarat state. Set in a near impenetrable forest, the hill station requires some effort to reach, but rewards the more energetic with spectacular waterfall scenery and, on clear days, a glimpse of the sea.
Chail
The former summer capital of the state of Patiala, Chail, a hill station in Himachal Pradesh, in noted for its stately 19th-century palace building. Chail is the location of the world's highest cricket pitch, at 2,250 m (7,381 ft) above sea level. The grounds also contain a polo field.
Coorg
Lying 1,525 m (5,003 ft) above sea level in the Western Ghats in Karnataka state and also known as Kodagu, Coorg has sometimes been described as the "Scotland of the East" for its magnificent emerald-colored landscape and rolling, forested hills.
Shillong
Shillong is the capital city of Meghalaya state. Situated at an elevation of 1,520 m (4,990 ft) above sea level in the Himalaya foothills, Shillong is identified for its awesome mountain views and, in summer, a wealth of sweet-smelling wild flowers.
