Hill Station in India
1. Manali, Himachal Pradesh
Manali is a high-altitude Himalayan resort town in India’s northern Himachal Pradesh state. It has a reputation as a backpacking center and honeymoon destination. Set on the Beas River, it’s a gateway for skiing in the Solang Valley and trekking in Parvati Valley. It’s also a jumping-off point for paragliding, rafting and mountaineering in the Pir Panjal mountains, home to 4,000m-high Rohtang Pass.
- Key Attractions: Solang Valley (for paragliding and zorbing), Rohtang Pass, and Hidimba Devi Temple.
- Best Time to Visit: December to February (for winter snow) or March to June (for pleasant weather).
- Accommodation & Travel: Explore stay options on Booking.com Manali. The nearest major airport is Bhuntar (approx. 50 km away).
2. Munnar, Kerala
Munnar is a town in the Western Ghats mountain range in India’s Kerala state. A hill station and former resort for the British Raj elite, it’s surrounded by rolling hills dotted with tea plantations established in the late 19th century. Eravikulam National Park, a habitat for the endangered mountain goat Nilgiri tahr, is home to the Lakkam Waterfalls, hiking trails and 2,695m-tall Anamudi Peak.
- Key Attractions: Eravikulam National Park (home to the endangered Nilgiri Tahr), Mattupetty Dam, and Anamudi Peak.
- Best Time to Visit: September to March.
- Accommodation & Travel: Find local stays using MakeMyTrip Munnar. The nearest railway station and airport are in Kochi (approx. 110 km away).
3. Darjeeling, West Bengal
Darjeeling is a town in India’s West Bengal state, in the Himalayan foothills. Once a summer resort for the British Raj elite, it remains the terminus of the narrow-gauge Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, or “Toy Train,” completed in 1881. It’s famed for the distinctive black tea grown on plantations that dot its surrounding slopes. Its backdrop is Mt. Kanchenjunga, among the world’s highest peaks.
- Key Attractions: The UNESCO World Heritage Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (Toy Train), Tiger Hill, and the Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park.
- Best Time to Visit: March to May and October to December.
- Accommodation & Travel: Check reviews on Tripadvisor Darjeeling. The nearest airport is Bagdogra (approx. 70 km away).
4. Shimla, Himachal Pradesh
Shimla is the capital of the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, in the Himalayan foothills. Once the summer capital of British India, it remains the terminus of the narrow-gauge Kalka-Shimla Railway, completed in 1903. It’s also known for the handicraft shops that line The Mall, a pedestrian avenue, as well as the Lakkar Bazaar, a market specializing in wooden toys and crafts.
- Key Attractions: The Ridge, Mall Road, Jakhoo Temple, and the Viceregal Lodge.
- Best Time to Visit: March to June, and December to January for snowfall.
- Accommodation & Travel: Easily plan your trip using Agoda Shimla. You can reach it via the Kalka-Shimla Toy Train or by road from Chandigarh (approx. 115 km away).
5. Ooty (Udhagamandalam), Tamil Nadu
Ooty (short for Udhagamandalam) is a resort town in the Western Ghats mountains, in southern India’s Tamil Nadu state. Founded as a British Raj summer resort, it retains a working steam railway line. Other reminders of its colonial past include Stone House, a 19th-century residence, and the circa-1829 St. Stephen’s Church. Its 55-acre Government Botanical Garden lies on the slopes of Doddabetta Peak.
- Key Attractions: Ooty Lake, the Nilgiri Mountain Railway, Government Botanical Gardens, and Doddabetta Peak.
- Best Time to Visit: October to June.
- Accommodation & Travel: Book your hotels via Expedia Ooty. Ooty is well-connected by road from Coimbatore (approx. 85 km away).