Key Takeaways:
- Hill stations in India provide a refreshing retreat from high temperatures and are perfect for a relaxing summer holiday
- From the snowy peaks of Pahalgam and Shimla to the lush tea gardens of Munnar, Ooty, and Kodaikanal, India’s hill stations offer adventure, nature, and peaceful relaxation
- Most hill stations are well connected by flights, trains, and roads with options ranging from luxury resorts to cozy hotels for a memorable holiday
Are you bored of visiting the same old regular holiday destinations in India with the usual vibe like beaches, cruises and nightlife? We bet you never thought of taking a vacation in a picturesque hill station and if so it’s time you planned a holiday at one of India’s popular hill stations for a different holiday experience.
How many hill stations are in India?
India being a vast country with more than 20 mountain ranges has no dearth of such beautiful hill stations for spending glorious moments at high altitudes with cool temperatures. The best hill stations in India with snowfall can be found in the Northern part of India in the Himalayan region. That being said, the southern part of India has some equally good hill stations but very few in number of the likes of Ooty and Kodaikanal. You can find more than 60 prominent hill stations across the length and breadth of the country.
What is the best time to visit the hill stations in India?
Hill stations are popular holiday getaways in India during the peak summers when the temperatures are burning with the hot sun at the leveled areas. So let’s put it this way, hill stations are best summer retreats for beating the scorching sun. Ideally any hill station in India can be enjoyed during the summer months of March to May when the temperatures are still extremely cold despite the hot sun around that time.
Here’s our bucket-list of 5 Amazing Hill Stations that you would not want to miss in your life.
Also Read: When is the Best Time to Visit India?
Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir
Pahalgam, located just 95 km from Jammu & Kashmir is a picturesque hill station of the northern Himalayan peaks. Popularly known as “The Valley of Shepherds”,it is a popular summer retreat and a place for pilgrimages. The must-dos in Pahalgam are whitewater rafting in the nearby Lidder River and visiting the iconic Tulian Lake. To reach Tulian Lake from Pahalgham, you could either go trekking or go horse riding.
How to Reach: Take a flight to Srinagar from New Delhi and from there you could hire a taxi to reach Pahalgam. Have your cheap flights to New Delhi booked with Indian Eagle for huge savings.
Where to stay: For your night’s stay we suggest The Chinar Resort & SPA
Ooty in Tamilnadu
To step into Ooty is to feel the brush of crisp air on the skin, to see hills rising like waves of green, to hear the hush of forests mingling with rushing winds at Doddabetta Peak. Nestled in the Nilgiris, hardly 88 km away from Coimbatore, the “Queen of Hill Stations” gives honeymooners not only views of Ketty Valley but also the sense of time pausing in nature’s arms.
How to reach: Take a flight to Coimbatore, the nearest city to Ooty and hire a taxi to reach Ooty.
Where to stay: Interestingly, the classic Bollywood actor Mithun Chakraborty owns a luxury hotel with the name “The Monarch” and you could spend your vacation in Ooty at this place to make your holiday more memorable and enthralling.
Kodaikanal in Tamilnadu
There is a reason Kodaikanal has earned the title “Princess of Hill Stations.” A mere 120 km from Madurai in Tamil Nadu, this hill town rises like a crown outlined with mist. The peaks here are not merely mountains; they are walls of the horizon, rising beyond sight. The forests that cover them are alive, green, dense, and humming with nature’s hidden music. Waterfalls pour down in silver ribbons, stirring the valleys with their force, while caves scattered across the slopes hold an old mystery impossible to ignore. Every turn of the town offers something new, something timeless, something that calls again and again, especially when summer heat makes the plains unbearable.
How to reach: Take a flight to Madurai and from there you could hire a taxi to reach Kodaikanal.
Where to stay: For your night’s stay we recommend staying at the luxury resort hotel, The Tamara Kodai.
Munnar in Kerala
Munnar, sometimes dubbed as “The true Cradle of Nature”, situated in “God’s Own Country”, Kerala, about 125 km from Kochi is one of the safe hill stations in India that’s worth paying a visit. The picturesque hill station is surrounded by majestic mountains, rolling hill tops, tea plantations, beautiful lakes and rivers. You will not regret visiting this hill station in the summer months of March to May when the temperature is cold enough to beat the summer heat.
How to reach: Take a flight to Kochi, the nearest city to Munnar and hire a taxi to reach Munnar. Have your cheap flights to Kochi booked on Indian Eagle right away!
Where to stay: For your night’s stay in Munnar we suggest staying at the luxury hotel Chandys Windy Wood.
Shimla, Himachal Pradesh
Shimla is a canvas where nature and heritage meet. It is a living portrait framed by mountains, where pine forests sing invisible melodies and colonial structures stand as strokes etched by history. Its streets carry the brush marks of life in constant motion. Mall Road glitters like a stage alive with characters. The Viceregal Lodge rises like a monument held against time. Jakhoo Temple rests like a sentinel in the clouds. Adventure answers in echoes. Boots press on forest paths. Wings soar as paragliders glide above. Quiet steps weave under green canopies. The mountain air hums with anticipation.
How to reach: Take a flight to Chandigarh or Shimla Airport. From Chandigarh, hire a taxi or take a scenic train/road journey to Shimla.
Where to stay: Like a bridge between times, The Oberoi Cecil connects the grandeur of the past with the luxuries of today, making it our suggestion for a remarkable stay.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many hill stations are there in India?
India has more than 60 prominent hill stations spread across its northern and southern regions. The northern Himalayan region has most of the snow-capped destinations, while southern states like Tamil Nadu and Kerala offer a few scenic retreats such as Ooty, Kodaikanal, and Munnar.
What is the best time to visit hill stations in India?
Hill stations are ideal summer retreats to escape the heat. The months of March to May are perfect for visiting as temperatures remain cool, even when the surrounding plains are hot.
Which hill stations are best for adventure activities?
Destinations like Pahalgam and Shimla offer trekking, whitewater rafting, paragliding, and nature walks. Munnar and Kodaikanal provide trekking and exploration of waterfalls and forests for a nature-focused adventure.
Which hill stations are best for honeymooners?
Ooty and Kodaikanal are popular among honeymooners for their romantic landscapes, serene lakes, and cozy resorts. Munnar also offers a peaceful getaway amidst tea gardens.
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