# Hill stations in India

Hill stations are towns at a higher elevations than the nearby plains or valleys. While rulers in precolonial times also used to escape the heat and humidity of summer by venturing to higher ground, most hill stations were established during the British Raj, as the British colonists sought to live in a climate more comfortable and similar to home. The concept of the Hill Station spread beyond India to Britain's other colonies in Asia such as Burma and Malaya, and even to the colonial possessions of other Western powers, such as the French-ruled Vietnam.

## Understand

The tourist season for the hill stations generally peaks during the Indian summer. However, they have a different kind of beauty and charm during winter, with many hill stations receiving healthy amounts of snow and offering activities such as skiing and snowboarding.

## Destinations
### Andhra Pradesh

* 18.333382.86671 Araku Valley. Comparatively lesser known, Araku Valley has caves, waterfalls and a museum of tribal art to keep you entertained. The famous dish of the area is bongulo (bamboo) chicken. (updated Aug 2020)

### Arunachal Pradesh

* 27.58833391.8652782 Tawang. The off-the-beaten-path character of Tawang means that on the one hand, the surrounding scenery is unspoilt and the views are breaktaking but on the other, there is limited development and infrastructure to support visitors staying in the town. (updated Feb 2020)

### Assam

* 24.81666792.83 Silchar.

### Gujarat

* 20.57972273.7466674 Saputara. Doesn't get overwhelmed with tourists like other hill stations though it gets a healthy number of visitors. (updated Jan 2020)

### Harayana

* 30.777.0833335 Morni. The only genuine hill station in the state. Well connected to Chandigarh. (updated Aug 2020)

### Himachal Pradesh

* 31.10333377.1722226 Shimla. The capital of Himachal Pradesh. (updated Apr 2021)
* 32.24496477.1882057 Manali, Himachal Pradesh. Has developed into one of the adventure sports hubs in India. Skiing, paragliding, mountain biking, rafting and camping are among the popular activities here. (updated Nov 2019)

### Jammu and Kashmir

* 34.09111174.8061118 Srinagar. The summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir. It is known for its stunning lakes and amazing landscape. The hill station houses a number of Mughal gardens and even a tulip garden.
* 34.0574.389 Gulmarg. The winter sports capital of India, Gulmarg is one of the country's best places for skiing and snowboarding. (updated Nov 2019)

### Karnataka

* 13.31666775.78333310 Chikmagalur (Chikkamagaluru). Bucks the trend of other hill stations by having a large number of coffee plantations instead of tea. Also home to many picturesque waterfalls and wildlife. (updated Jan 2020)
* 12.41666775.73333311 Madikeri. (updated Jan 2020)
* 13.38625877.70093312 Nandi Hills. (updated Nov 2019)

### Kerala

* Vythiri. Good climate and place of serene natural beauty with valleys and hills.
* 10.08916777.05972213 Munnar. Full of vast tea plantations. Popular place for honeymooners in the south. (updated Nov 2019)

### Ladakh

* 34.16416777.58472214 Leh. One of the highest towns of India. (updated Apr 2021)
* 34.4575.7715 Dras. Has the reputation of being the coldest inhabited locality in the country. (updated Aug 2020)

### Madhya Pradesh

* 22.466778.433316 Pachmarhi. Known as the Queen of Satpura. (updated Feb 2020)

### Maharashtra

* 18.74806173.40721917 Lonavla. One of the go-to hill stations for the residents of Mumbai, famous for its chikki (peanut brittle). (updated Nov 2019)
* 17.9273.8218 Panchgani.
* 18.98888973.27083319 Matheran. Located atop Sahyadris Mountain range. Connected by a narrow-gauge railway.
* 17.92573.657520 Mahabaleshwar. The summer capital of the Bombay presidency during the British period.

### Manipur

* 25.1294.3721 Ukhrul. Has the world's only habitat for the world's only terrestrial lily in Sirohi National Park. The Shirui lily (Lilium macklineae), can't be grown except as part of its own natural habitat, despite numerous attempts by scientists.

### Meghalaya

* 25.57444491.87888922 Shillong.

### Odisha

* 19.90722284.12277823 Daringbadi. Known as the Kashmir of Odisha. (updated Dec 2019)

### Rajasthan

* 24.592572.70833324 Mount Abu. The only hill station of note in the arid state of Rajasthan. With its lakes, rivers and waterfalls, Mount Abu is aptly described as an oasis in the desert. (updated Nov 2019)

### Sikkim

* 27.3388.6225 Gangtok. Capital of Sikkim.
* 27.36916788.22222226 Yuksom (Yuksam). Yuksom serves as the starting point of the Dzongri - Goechala Trek. The 8 - 9 day trek is the most popular in Sikkim and leads to the base of the third highest mountain in the world, Kangchenjunga. Yuksom also has its share of history and is the first capital of the Kingdom of Sikkim. The stone throne on which the coronation took place in 1641 can still be seen and is a protected site under ASI. (updated Jan 2020)

### Tamil Nadu

* 11.40861176.69388927 Ooty (Udhagamandalam). (updated Sep 2022)

### Uttrakhand

* 30.45611178.07805628 Mussoorie. Famous for its lush green hills, colonial architecture and natural landmarks such as Kempty Falls and Mussoorie Lake. Offers a variety of outdoor activities including trekking, paragliding and camping.
* 29.39194479.45416729 Nainital. The town is centred upon the crescent/kidney shaped lake of which there are stunning views from the mountains from all angles. (updated Nov 2019)

### West Bengal

* 27.037588.26305630 Darjeeling. Known as the Queen of the Hills. Renowned for its prized tea and "Toy Train" steam locomotive still in operation. (updated Nov 2019)
* 27.0688.4731 Kalimpong. Kalimpong was ceded by Bhutan after it lost the Anglo-Bhutan War in 1864. The hill station was established by the British as an alternative to Darjeeling. India's highest mountain and the world's third highest, Kangchenjunga, is visible from the town. (updated May 2020)
* 26.8888.2832 Kurseong. Land of white orchid

## Stay safe

Some hill stations, particularly those in the Himalayas, are prone to landslides during the monsoon season.

## See also

* Hill stations
* Hill stations in Pakistan
* Trekking in Nepal