Published Date: September 25, 2024
Geographically, India is bountiful in mountain ranges. From the Great Himalayas in the North to the Western and Eastern Ghats in the South, it has plenty of hill stations and no doubt the number crosses a century. This short blog post introduces to you the top ten picks in the country with a small note on its unique value propositions and attractions. Here you go!
Best hill stations in India: top 10 picks
Most states in India have at least a few hill stations that are scenic and beautiful. Thus, we have restricted this list to one hill station highlighted for every state. This helps cover as many states as possible in the country with hilly regions.
- Srinagar—the capital of Jammu & Kashmir
- Auli—the best skiing spot
- Darjeeling—unparalleled tea plantations
- Ooty—people’s summer resort
- Munnar—the rolling hill ranges
- Tawang—the holy Buddhist monasteries
- Coorg—best coffee plantations
- Lonavala—the Karla and Bhaja Caves
- Mount Abu—the breathtaking Toad Rock
- Gangtok—the marvelous view of Kanchenjunga
Srinagar
Srinagar is an amazing hill station in Jammu and Kashmir with many emerald lakes, nature parks, and stunning viewpoints. This is a must-visit tourist spot for hill stations in India. In fact, none of the North India tours and travels would miss including this place in your North India tour itinerary. That’s how alluring this hill station is!
Auli
It is one of the best places to visit with families, friends, kids, and spouses. The unique attractions in this hill station are apple orchards, the man-made lake, the Nanda Devi Peak, and most importantly, the skiing. You can visit here both in summer and winter, but not during the monsoon.
Darjeeling
Without a doubt, this place tops the list of the top hill stations in India. Located on the foothills of the eastern part of the Great Himalayas, it has vast and majestic tea plantations. Also, this hill station is known for trekking spots and houses the Mountaineering Institute. Kids prefer visiting this tourist place for zoological and national parks.
Ooty
Renowned as the “Queen of Hills” in the southern part of India, this hill station is famous among newlywed couples. Yes, it is the best destination for a honeymoon, wherein they can resort, relax, and romance with nature. Top attractions include the Nilgiri toy train, the Doddabetta Peak, Pykara Lake and Falls, the botanical garden, and the mesmerizing Coonoor. Apart from Ooty or Udhagamandalam, there are other hill tourist places in Tamilnadu >>>
Munnar
This hilly region in Kerala is best for witnessing the rolling Western Ghats in the southern part of India. Though abundant in tea plantations, it is also famous for astonishing landscapes, the distinguished echo point, the Pothamedu Viewpoint, and Eravikulam National Park. This is one of the rarest places in India where the Neelakurinji flower blooms once in twelve years.
Tawang
Next to Tibet, Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh houses the biggest and holiest Buddhist monasteries in the world. Tourists looking for a spiritual experience with pleasant weather can visit this hill station. This place tops the list of untapped famous hill stations in North India. Enjoy the culture, heritage, and gorgeous landscapes of Tawang now!
Coorg
Also known as Kodagu in Karnataka, this small hill is located on the Sahyadri range of the Western Ghats. There are two waterfalls that you cannot miss in this hill station—Abbey and Iruppu. Exploring the Madikeri Fort and the coffee plantations requires a full day.
Lonavala
Entirely, this hill station is different from what we saw in other states. It has incredible caves, namely the Karla and Bhaja; exquisite forts, namely Rajmachi, Visapur, and Lohagad; and cascading waterfalls, namely Lonavala, Reverse, Kataldhar, Bhivpuri, and Kune. Indeed, the best travel agency in India has listed this hill station as one of the best places to visit in summer with families >>>
Mount Abu
Thinking Rasjasthan is only a desert? Sorry, you’re wrong. Mount Abu is an enticing hill station that’s located on the Aravalli Plateau Range of the state. This rocky, lush green mountain has several tourist places, like Toad Rock, Achalgargh Fort, Honeymoon Point, Raghunath/Dilwara Temple, and Nakki Lake.
Gangtok
Certainly, this is one of the most visited among the top 10 hill stations in India. This is a part of the Eastern Himalayan region in Sikkim. Most tourists prefer this hill station just to stand at the Kanchenjunga viewpoint and admire the magnificent beauty of one of the world’s highest peaks, the Kanchenjunga.