With summer vacations right around the corner, everyone must be looking for an escape. And what better escape than leaving both the dreadful heat and busy city life behind for a bit and taking a chill pill high up in the mountains? So we at Aertrip are bringing you the top 15 hill stations in India you should consider visiting this summer.
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Top 15 hill Stations in India for Summer Holidays
Shimla
Located in Himachal Pradesh, Shimla is the honeymoon destination for many newlyweds. The city is famous for its Tudorbethan and neo-gothic architecture. It is known for its beautiful mountains and stunning natural beauty. Many gather to partake in adventure sports like trekking, camping and ice-skating. As it is the proud owner of Asia’s oldest natural skating rink, it has thus gained a reputation for adventure ice sports.
Nainital
Nainital got its name from a pear-shaped lake in the area known as Naini Lake, which is surrounded by hills. Nainital is situated in Uttaranchal and is among the most popular hill stations in North India. Its magnificent views of lakes and forested hills are breathtaking. Besides Naini Lake, it also has Bhimtal lake, Jim Corbett Park and other scenic destinations that are must-visit spots for any tourist.
Darjeeling
Situated in the hills of West Bengal and located on Mount Kanchanjangha, Darjeeling, the queen of hill stations, is well known for its tea plantations and dense green forests. It also has one of the oldest Toy trains in India, which travels the path from Siliguri to Darjeeling. Tea grown in this place is considered one of the best in the world, with many rare and expensive varieties like white tea that can be enjoyed here for more reasonable rates. The cool climate and stretches of plantations are a pleasure to view.
Gangtok
The capital of Sikkim, Gangtok, is located in the Shivalik Hills of the eastern Himalayan range. This is one of the most picturesque hill stations in India, famous for its natural beauty and culture. The mysteriously beautiful town of Gangtok is the centre of Tibetan Buddhist culture and learning with the presence of several monasteries. Many Buddhist monks reside here, with pilgrimages to the region conducted regularly.
Shillong
Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya, is a beautiful hill station with beautiful getaway landscaped, sparkling lakes and abundant beauty of nature. It is recognised for its fascinating hills, Garo, Khasi and Jaintia. It also has majestic waterfalls scattered all over. All in all, it’s a superb location that should be visited by every tourist.
Ooty
Situated at the heart of the Nilgiri hills, Ooty is often praised for its cool climate and serene forests. It is a must-visit spot in Tamil Nadu and the most famous hill station in south India. One of the highest-rated honeymoon spots in the country, a large number of couples can be seen here all throughout the year.
Munnar
A former resort for the elite Britishers during the pre-independence era, the Munnar hill station is surrounded by glorious mountains with tea plantations scattered all across them. A well-known location here is the Eravikulam National Park – a nature preserve and habitat of the endangered mountain goat Nilgiri. The Lakkam Waterfalls and Anamudi Peak is a famous trail in the area with many enthusiastic visitors all year round.
Coorg
Famous for being the birthplace of one of India’s most sacred rivers – Kaveri, Coorg is usually high on the itinerary of anyone visiting Karnataka. It has a rich spread of coffee plantations and sandalwood forests as far as the eyes can see.
Mount Abu
Mount Abu is the highest peak in the Aravalli Range in Rajasthan. It is the only hill station of Rajasthan & famous for the Jain temples of Delwara. It is a well-established trekking spot with many hills scattered with several tourist attractions like rivers, Nakki Lake, waterfalls and evergreen forests. Mount Abu is an ideal place to enjoy local flora and fauna, animal and birdlife.
Gulmarg
Gulmarg means meadow of flowers, and it rightly stands up to its name. It is very famous for its skiing locations and the view of the luscious mountains surrounding it.
Mahabaleshwar
A hill station in the dense forests of the Western Ghats, Mahabaleshwar is situated to the south of Mumbai. The Venna lake and Mahabaleshwar Temple nearby Panchgani are the major tourist attractions of Mahabaleshwar. This destination gets the most traffic from March to June as many tourists try to escape the scorching summer heat. It’s also known for producing delicious strawberries that are created by people nationwide.
Manali
Situated in Himachal Pradesh, Manali is a well-known honeymoon site. However, in recent years Manali has also developed a reputation as a backpacking destination, well known for its intensive treks like the Parvati Valley trek and skiing sites like the Solang Valley. It also has many other adventure sports available like paragliding, mountaineering and rafting.
Dharamshala
Nestled between cedar forests and the edge of the Himalayan range, Dharamshala is the home to the Dalai Lama and the exiled Tibetan government. Due to this, it has gained a reputation as a spiritual centre for Tibetan Buddhism. There are many Archives and Libraries filled with ancient Tibetan works here, and the place is often held in high esteem.
Auli
Situated in the north Indian state of Uttarakhand, Auli is a Himalayan ski resort and hill station known for its scenic winter landscape. It is at the heart of a vast coniferous forest with the Nanda Devi and Nar Parvat mountains surrounding it. Places to visit nearby include the Badrinath Temple, Valley of Flowers National Park and the Snow Leopard Reserve.
Mussoorie
Not only is it known for its scenic beauty, but Mussorie has also been developed into a centre of education and business. It houses trainees of the Indian Administrative Service and the Indian Police. It is often packed with visitors from April to June as people try to escape from the summer heat. But it also attracts many during the winter months as Mussorie is known for its beautiful snowfall.
Which of the above hill stations will you be visiting this summer? And, if you are still facing trouble deciding, we at Aertrip are always one click away from all your vacation needs. So get your luggage ready, book your flight tickets and get set for an awesome summer vacation.
