Trip ideas
Best Hill Stations in India
From the Himalaya to the Western Ghats and the Nilgiris, India's hills offer snow in winter, green valleys after the monsoon and an escape from the heat in summer. These are the best hill stations in India and the mountain towns most worth the trip.
Updated
Handpicked for you
Top 30 hill stations in India
The best hill stations in India include Manali, Shimla, Ooty, Darjeeling and Munnar. Here are all 30, ranked, with when to go.
Manali, Himachal Pradesh
Snow, adventure and the Kullu Valley
Manali, perched at 2,050 metres in the Kullu Valley of Himachal Pradesh, is India's most iconic mountain destination.
- Snow
- Hills
- Adventure
Shimla, Himachal Pradesh
The old summer capital on a ridge
Shimla, the capital of Himachal Pradesh and once the summer capital of British India, remains the most beloved hill station in the country.
- Hills
Ooty, Tamil Nadu
Tea slopes and the Nilgiri toy train
Ooty, the Queen of the Nilgiris, has been a favored hill station retreat since the British colonial era, prized for its cool climate, rolling tea estates, and misty viewpoints.
- Hills
Darjeeling, West Bengal
Tea gardens and Kanchenjunga views
" This "Queen of the Hills" is a centerpiece of Darjeeling tourism, where mist-covered slopes reveal sprawling emerald estates. Every Darjeeling travel guide highlights the sunrise at Tiger Hill as a mandatory start to Darjeeling sightseeing.
- Hills
Munnar, Kerala
Rolling tea estates in the Western Ghats
Munnar is the kind of place that looks exactly like the pictures and somehow still surprises you when you get there.
- Hills
- Nature
Coorg, Karnataka
Coffee estates and misty hills
Coorg (Kodagu), often called the 'Scotland of India,' is Karnataka's most celebrated hill destination a misty, green haven of coffee plantations, cascading waterfalls, and rich indigenous Kodava culture.
- Hills
- Nature
Chikmagalur, Karnataka
Coffee country in the Western Ghats
Chikmagalur is where most of India's morning cup of coffee comes from, and spending time here makes that feel like a completely reasonable thing to be proud of.
- Hills
- Nature
Gangtok, Sikkim
Monasteries and Himalayan views
Gangtok feels like a city that perfectly balances deep ancient spirituality with highly organized modern living. At first glance, it looks like a bustling hill station clinging tightly to a steep green mountain ridge.
- Hills
Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu
Lake and pine forests in the Palani Hills
Kodaikanal takes a while to get to and that's probably why it still feels like it belongs to the people who make the effort. The drive up is all hairpins and eucalyptus, and by the time you arrive the rest of Tamil Nadu feels very far away.
- Hills
Mussoorie
Mussoorie, the “Queen of the Hills,” sits on a narrow ridge in Uttarakhand’s Garhwal Himalayas at 2,000 meters, just 35 km north of Dehradun, making it a highlight of any Mussoorie travel guide.
Nainital
Nainital is a lake-basin town in Uttarakhand's Kumaon Himalayas, built around the emerald Nainital lake, shaped like an eye. Seven hills ring the lake, each offering a spectacular Nainital view—plains on one side, snowy peaks on the other.
Shillong, Meghalaya
Pine hills, waterfalls and living root bridges
Shillong doesn't try to impress you. It simply does. Tucked away in the rolling Khasi Hills of Meghalaya, this charming mountain city feels like a place where nature and culture have found the perfect balance.
- Hills
- Nature
McLeod Ganj, Himachal Pradesh
Little Lhasa below the Dhauladhars
You walk up the steep colorful streets and the aroma of steaming momos instantly wraps around you. A standard McLeod Ganj travel guide always points you toward the peaceful Tsuglagkhang Complex, easily ranking among the top attractions in McLeod Ganj.
- Hills
- Spiritual
Dalhousie
Dalhousie is a colonial-era hill station in Himachal Pradesh, named after the British Viceroy who established it as a summer retreat.
Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra
Strawberries and Sahyadri viewpoints
The mist rolls over the Sahyadri ridges, turning the landscape into a dream of emerald green. This stunning Mahabaleshwar location offers a crisp chill that defines the perfect Mahabaleshwar weather.
- Hills
Lonavala
The moment your car begins climbing into the Western Ghats, the atmosphere changes. The roads become curvier, the air cooler, and the city noise slowly disappears behind layers of green mountains.
Mount Abu
Nestled amidst the ancient Aravalli Range, Mount Abu is Rajasthan's only hill station and a refreshing escape from the state's desert landscapes.
Wayanad, Kerala
Forests, waterfalls and spice estates
Wayanad is Kerala's green escape into the Western Ghats, where misty hills, spice plantations, and cascading waterfalls replace the state's better-known backwaters.
- Nature
- Hills
Pelling, Sikkim
Kanchenjunga outside your window
Pelling is the kind of mountain town that makes people wake up early without setting an alarm.
- Hills
Kasauli
Pine-scented air drifts through quiet lanes as mist rolls softly over sloping rooftops. Kasauli carries an old-world stillness that feels untouched by the rush of larger hill stations.
Lansdowne
Lansdowne is a small hill station in Uttarakhand, located in the Garhwal region at around 1,700 metres above sea level, and is a key destination in Lansdowne tourism and Lansdowne travel guide experiences.
Yercaud
The first glimpse usually arrives through fog. One sharp curve on the mountain road opens into rolling green valleys, drifting clouds, silver oak forests, and endless coffee plantations stretching quietly across the hills.
Sakleshpur
Sakleshpur is a small hill town in Karnataka’s Hassan district, set at 949 meters in the Western Ghats, about 220 km from Bangalore.
Binsar
Binsar is a wildlife sanctuary and former summer capital of the Chand kings of Kumaon, 33 kilometres from Almora, built around a 2,420-metre forested ridge in Uttarakhand, making it one of the top attractions in Uttarakhand.
Mukteshwar
Mukteshwar is a small Kumaon village in Uttarakhand at 2,285 metres, 50 kilometres from Nainital — quieter, higher, and with some of the best snow-peak views in the entire Kumaon region.
Palampur
Palampur is a small town in the Kangra valley, with the Dhauladhar range rising behind it. ', the answer is tea. The green tea gardens established in the 1850s still cover the valley floor, producing distinctive Kangra tea.
Chail
Chail is a quiet hill town in Himachal Pradesh at 2,250 metres, 44 kilometres from Shimla, spread across the forested hills of Rajgarh, Pandhewa, and Sadh Tiba, making it one of the peaceful places to visit in Chail.
Tawang
Tawang is a high altitude town in western Arunachal Pradesh at 3,048 metres, known as the birthplace of the 6th Dalai Lama, Tsangyang Gyatso, who lived from 1683 to 1706.
Araku Valley
Most people find out about Araku by accident. Someone mentions the train ride from Vizag and that's usually enough to get you looking it up.
Saputara
Saputara is the only hill station in Gujarat, located at about 1,000 meters on the Maharashtra border in the Dang district, roughly 165 km north of Surat.
Good to know
FAQs
Which are the best hill stations in India?
The best hill stations in India are Manali, Shimla, Ooty, Darjeeling, Munnar, Coorg, Chikmagalur, Gangtok, Kodaikanal and Mussoorie, the top 10 of the 30 on this list.
When is the best time to visit hill stations in India?
Most of the places on this list are at their best from October to May. Each one's own best months are shown on its card.
How do I plan a trip to one of these places?
Open its destination guide with Explore, browse its packages where it has them, or use Plan trip to build an itinerary with our trip planner.
Plan ahead
