Hill stations have long been popular among Indians and foreign visitors alike for providing a relaxing and salubrious retreat from the heat of the plains. Indian sub-continent has seven principal mountain ranges and the largest of all is the Himalayas that are positioned in the northern part of India.
Shimla
Shimla, the summer capital of the British India, is situated at a height of 2,196 metres. Shimla district is located in the middle western ranges of the Himalayas. This region has a hilly terrain and has an uneven cover of evergreen pine forests.
Darjeeling
Darjeeling is located in the Darjeeling Himalayan hill region. Darjeeling, the queen of all hill stations, famous for its natural beauty, clean fresh air, year round pleasant weather and above all, the ever smiling and welcoming local people. Darjeeling is internationally famous for its tea industry and the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The tea plantations date back to the mid 1800s as part of a British development of the area.
Located in the mountainous range called the Blue Mountains or Nilgiris, Ooty draws a large number of tourists every year. It is one of the favorite summer retreats of people in South India. The weather is quite pleasant at a mean of 15 to 20 °C (59 to 68 °F) year round, dropping to lows of 0 °C (32 °F) during winter. There is no snowfall. The landscape is quite unlike the rest of India, marked by rolling hills and plateaus covered with dense vegetation, tea gardens, and eucalyptus trees.
Kodaikanal
Kodaikanal, also known as Kodai, is on the southern crest of the Palani hills, at an altitude of 2100 mt. Kodaikanal is sometimes referred to as the "Princess of Hill stations" and is a popular tourist destination. Much of the local economy is Hospitality industry based on national and international tourism. Kodaikanal was established by American missionaries around 1845, as a refuge from the high temperatures and tropical diseases of the plains.
Lonavala is a Hill station in Maharashtra. Also known as the jewel of the Sahyadri Mountains. The hill stations sprawl over an approximate area of 38 kms. This Hill Station is also a popular Health Resort in the western ranges on the sahyadri. This popular holiday destinations are lush and beautiful during the monsoons. People prefer visiting Lonavala in the rainy season. A trip to Lonavla and Khandala can be combined with sight-seeing visits of Karla, Bhaja and Bedsa caves and also the two fortresses, Lohagad and Visapur.
Khandala
Khandala, set at a height of 625 mt, located on the western slopes of the Sahyadri mountain range is a hill station in Maharashtra. Khandala is located at one (top) end the Bhor Ghat, a major ghat on the road link between the Deccan Plateau and the Konkan plain. Due to the ease of accessibility from nearby cities, Khandala is a common area for hiking. One destination is the nearby peak of Duke's Nose, which offers a panaromic view of Khandala and the Bhor Ghat.
Mussoorie
Mussoorie, popularly known as the Queen of Hills, this charming hill station, 34 kms from Dehradun is situated at an altitude of 2003 mts in the Garhwal hills above sea-level. This hill station, situated in the foothills of the Himalaya ranges. Being at an average altitude of 2,000 meters (6,600 ft.), Mussoorie, with its green hills and varied flora and fauna, is a fascinating hill resort. Commanding snow ranges to the north-east, and glittering views of the Doon Valley and Shiwalik ranges in the south, the town was once said to present a 'fairyland' atmosphere to tourists.
Nainital
Nainital is a town in the Indian state of Uttarakhand and headquarters of Nainital District in the Kumaon foothills of the outer Himalaya. It is also famous for it's many legends and stories. Situated at 6,350 ft above sea-level, Nainital is set in a valley containing a pear-shaped lake, approximately 2 miles in circumference, and surrounded by mountains, of which the highest are Naina (2615 m) on the north, Deopatha (2438 m) on the west, and Ayarpatha (2278 m) on the south. From the tops of the higher peaks, "magnificent views can be obtained of the vast plain to the south, or of the mass of tangled ridges lying north, bounded by the great snowy range which forms the central axis of the Himalayas.
Mount Abu
Mount Abu is a picturesque hill-station which green oasis in the barren deserts cape of Rajasthan. Mount Abu is home to a number of Jain temples. The Dilwara Temples are a complex of temples, carved of white marble, that were built between the 11th and 13th centuries AD. Nakki Lake is another popular visitor attraction of Mount Abu. There is the Toad Rock on a hill near the lake. The mountain is also home to several Hindu temples, including the Adhar Devi Temple, carved out of solid rock; the Shri Raghunathji Temple; and a shrine and temple to Dattatreya built atop the Guru Shikhar peak.